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Louisiana military veterans honored before Saturday's LSU game

6 years 4 months 2 weeks ago Saturday, November 11 2017 Nov 11, 2017 November 11, 2017 7:13 PM November 11, 2017 in News

BATON ROUGE - As LSU players warmed up for Saturday's early morning game, active and retired members of the military took the field to be honored for their courage and service. 

Those greeted by a roar of applause on this Veteran's Day included Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, a West Point Military Academy graduate. 

"This couldn't be more fitting," he said. "We have tremendous heroes here ... all these great Americans, great Louisianians. I'm just proud to be among them." 

Veterans like 91-year-old Charles Smith of New Roads were also in attendance. Smith is an LSU graduate who took a break from school to serve in World War II. 

"I appreciate this," he said. "It makes you feel good that we have this recognition." 

Betty Bagot represented her sister on the field Saturday. She died 75 years ago at a Marine Corps base in North Carolina. 

"She dies in a fire at Cherry Point helping others escape," she said. "You would have loved her. She was a wonderful woman." 

Dr. Randy Guire with the University's Cadet Programs said the ceremony is a way to honor those heroes with ties to Louisiana and LSU. 

"[The ceremony] is a way to maintain the University's rich military history and the legacy of those the University has helped prepare for the armed forces since 1860."  

LSU has strong ties to the armed forces as it first opened as a military academy before the Civil War. 

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