PLAQUEMINE mdash; Along Highway 1 in Plaquemine, 45 live oak trees stand as a lasting tribute to Iberville Parish veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice serving their country.Planted after World War II by the American Legion, each tree honors a local veteran who lost their life in service. Now, t he Plaquemine Garden Club is working to ensure the history behind those trees is never forgotten.Red, white and blue ribbons recently wrapped around the trees are helping bring renewed attention to the memorial, which many people pass without knowing the stories behind it.President of the Plaquemine Garden Club Edward "Lucky" Songy, who is also the first man to ever become a member of the Garden Club, said each tree has been registered with the Live Oak Society, with records connecting it to the veteran it honors.As part of this year's Veterans Day observance, the club also recognized the families of those fallen veterans during a ceremony at the American Legion.But preserving local history is just one part of the organization's mission.For 70 years, the Plaquemine Garden Club has worked to make the city a more beautiful place through projects ranging from colorful hanging flower baskets downtown to flowerbeds at local landmarks.Songy said those efforts go beyond appearances, helping encourage community pride and investment. "Because aesthetics contributes to growth and development of an area. If anything looks blighted, it doesn't grow. They see flowers, they see beauty, they see cleanliness, and they see people taking ownership of their community," Songy said.For some members, that commitment to gardening started long before they joined the organization.Donna Carville, second vice president of the Plaquemine Garden Club, said her love of gardening was inspired by her mother, who was also a club member."My earliest memories are through my mom, when she was a member of the Garden Club. We were always in the flower beds in our house, and she loved gardening, and I got naturally," Carville said.The club's impact also reaches beyond thecity's landscaping.Members have worked with students to teach them about growing plants and created decorations to brighten the days of residents at local nursing homes.It's all part of an effort to make Plaquemine a place residents can take pride in calling home.Mayor J.B. Barker said the Garden Club'scontributions help maintain the city's character while making a positive impression on visitors."It's all about the beautification and the quaintness of our little charming town. And we're so grateful, and every little bit helps," Barker said. "You never get a second chance to make a first impression."As the club looks toward the future, its leaders hope to bring more young people into the organization to carry its mission forward.Songy said getting younger generations involved is important to ensuring Plaquemine remains a vibrant and welcoming community."We need more young people to take pride in their community and responsibility for the community to help this community remain viable and a beautiful place to live, work, and visit," Songy said.From honoring fallen veterans to planting flowers and giving back to residents, the Plaquemine Garden Club continues to make a difference throughout the community.And whether it's caring for a flower bed, preserving a piece of history or honoring a fallen soldier, members hope their work will leave something meaningful behind for generations to come.Permalink| Comments ...read more read less