NEWS RELEASE
Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
http://www.nsula.edu/news
7/2/2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES – U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and Maj. Gen. Hunt Downer will be the featured speakers at the Boys State/Girls State Joint Convocation and Flag Ceremony Wednesday, July 4 at 2 p.m. at the practice field near the Athletic Fieldhouse on the Northwestern State University campus.
A flag retirement ceremony will be held along with a flag presentation from the Louisiana American Legion and Auxiliary to Northwestern recognizing the first year the Boys State and Girls State programs have been held at NSU. A special patriotic ceremony commemorating the Fourth of July is also planned.
Boys State and Girls State delegates will hold a parade Wednesday afternoon, marching from the Northwestern campus to the Downtown Riverbank for the City of Natchitoches’ Fourth of July celebration. Several local elected officials are planning to take part in the parade.
Downer is the first secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. He was appointed to the position in 2004. Downer is also assistant adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard.
From 1975 until 2003, Downer was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. From 1996 until 2000, he served as Speaker of the House.
Landrieu is in her second term in the U.S. Senate, serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee. She was previously a member of the Armed Services Committee.
Landrieu was first elected to the Louisiana Legislature in 1979 at age 23, the youngest women ever elected to the State House of Representatives. In 1987, Landrieu was elected State Treasurer, holding that office until winning a U.S. Senate seat in 1996.
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