Editor’s Note: From the Sept. 4 editions of the American Press for 2009, 1994, 1969 and 1944.

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10 years ago

JENNINGS — Christians are invited to meet in front of the Jeff Davis Parish Courthouse noon-1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, for the 2009 Cry Out America prayer rally, a nondenominational event.

“The focus is that everyone around the nation is praying at that time,” said Bernetta McCann of Our Savoirs Church in Jennings, local organizer pastor. “Praying, not only for our nation to humble themselves before God, but to pray for the safety and care of our nation.”

Diamond anniversary

Mr. and Mrs. Dan (Joyce Derouen) Landry of Lake Charles will celebrate 60 years of marriage with a reception 1-3 p.m. Sept. 20, 2009, in the Knights of Columbus Hall.

Hosts are their children and spouses, Dana Coe and Mr. and Mrs. Bart (Sybil) Landry, all of Lake Charles, and Mr. and Mrs. Gil (Denise) Landry of Santa Clara, Calif., along with family. The couple was married Sept. 4, 1949, and has eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

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25 years ago

POW/MIA 
remembrance

DEQUINCY — The Color Corps of Msgr. Cramers Assembly, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, will participate in the fifth annual Missing in Action/Prisoner of War Remembrance to be held in DeQuincy on Saturday, Sept. 17.

The Color Corps, led by Commander Stanley Vaughn of Moss Bluff, will post the National colors in ceremonies to honor area servicemen who were prisoners of war, or missing in action. Sponsor is the Veterans of Foreign Wars post, George

Cormier, commander. Mr. and Mrs. Norman Squibb, of the auxiliary, are in charge of arrangements.

Guam liberation 
anniversary

“When I saw Agat Beach at Guam again,” says Paul Pumpelly, who recently returned from the 50th anniversary celebration of the invasion of Guam, “it was like slipping back to that day 50-years-ago, when we first waded ashore, with 75 mm and 37 mm guns raking over us and machine guns spraying bullets in our faces.”

Lake Charles businessman Paul Pumpelly was in the First Provisional Marine Brigade during the historic invasion of Guam in July 1944. “On the plane going over,” he says, “the veterans relived the invasion, over and over.” Pumpelly’s 95-year-old mother, Mrs. J.M. (Marie) Pumpelly, also feels that Paul’s trip back has helped release bad memories.

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50 years ago

LaGrange 
band boosters

Committee chairmen for the LaGrange Senior High School Band Booster Club were elected at a meeting held in the school band room, according to Mrs. R.L. Pruitt, publicity chairman.

Those elected were Mrs. E.F. Deon, membership; Mrs. Pruitt, publicity; Mrs. Ivy Meaux, hospitality; Mrs. A.C. Thompson, banquet; Mrs. Aaron Butler, chaperones; Mrs. F.F. Dickerson, telephone; Van Smutz, garage sale, and A.S. Dewey, concession sales.

St. Margaret’s 
Squire Circle

St. Margaret Knights of Columbus Council 3208 presided at the installation of officers for Columbian Squire Circle No. 638 in a meeting held at the Knights of Columbus Hall.

Newly installed officers are Mike Meche, chief squire; Hubert Coco, deputy chief squire; Kenneth Abshire, notary; Robert Newman, bursar; Mark Peet, marshal, and Carol Guillory, sentry. Captains are Gregory Coco and Allen Guidry.

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75 years ago

Killed in action

DERIDDER — Private Archie D. Graves was killed in action over France on May 27th, according to a message from the war department to his wife, Mrs. Beatrice Wooley Graves.

The private had previously been reported missing on May 27th from his base in England while on a mission to Amiens, France. He was an aerial gunner on an A-20 Havoc, a light bomber, intruder and reconnaissance aircraft.

Wounded in action

Pfc. Kenneth E. Walter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Erle Walter of Vinton, was wounded in the battle for Guam in July and is now in the hospital in the New Hebrides island group. He suffered wounds in the left arm from shrapnel.

Also wounded, in the European area, from this area were Pvt. Mike Vidrine, son of David Vidrine of Oberlin; Pvt. Ira M. Fontenot, son of Mrs. Marie Fontenot of Eunice; Staff Sgt. Nassen Fontenot, husband of Mrs. Tonnie Belle Fontenot of Ville Platte; Pfc. Rufus J. Moreau, son of Mrs. Louise Moreau of Church Point.

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Our Past is a daily feature compiled by Mike Jones.