Immaculate Conception Hosts National Guard

Even stronger than the furious winds and destruction of one of Louisiana’s worst storms, Hurricane Ida, is the generosity and support of church parishes in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Among them is Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Springs, which is helping forge the path toward recovery by housing the Louisiana National Guard as they go about clearing roads, distributing supplies and other needs.

As Ida approached Louisiana, ICC pastor Father Matthew Graham contacted Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry, a member of ICC, and said to let the parish know if it could help in any way. After the storm hit on Aug. 29, ICC received a call asking if it would house the National Guard soldiers. 

The church’s Main Hall now resembles a military barrack but its paintings and statues make it clear that the Blessed Mother, her son Jesus and the saints are helping the troops keep things in order.

“This has been a home base for them,” said Father Taylor Sanford, parochial vicar at ICC.

Knights of Columbus Council 6326 and KC councils from other church parishes “reported for duty” to tackle the appetites of hurricane victims and the soldiers by cooking thousands of meals including chicken, jambalaya and other dishes. 

Parishioners also chipped in. When they heard the soldiers needed someone to wash their clothes, those with electricity were so eager to help that those not lucky enough to get to the church office on time found to their disappointment others had already picked up the laundry.

“They’ve been doing a fantastic job,” Father Sandford said of the entire ICC community.

The soldiers expressed their gratitude.

This is not the “first ride” in the military for Sgt. Richard Garcia, a sergeant in the 1022nd Engineer Company and resident of Shreveport. He served in the Navy for eight years, then sat out for seven. He was at a fair and filled out a card to try to win a Harley-Davidson motorcycle he was admiring that was being raffled by the National Guard. 

“My thought was I’ve been out for seven years, they won’t want me, but I could win a hog (a popular Harley-Davidson motorcycle),” said Garcia.

Shortly after, the National Guard called him.

“Service just feels right to me,” said Garcia.

 The majority (85%) of the troops stationed in Livingston Civil Parish are new soldiers. The main body is serving in Kuwait, according to Garcia.

 “This is hard on the new guys,” said Garcia. “For many of them this is their first call away from home, many just started college and already are falling behind on studies. Their schedule is wake at 5 a.m., head out for 6 a.m., work in the heat 12 to 14 hours, then head back to a make-shift temporary home not knowing how long they will be here.”

“They sacrifice a lot to do what they do. These soldiers came from all over Louisiana, but they came together as one unit,” he said.

Pvt. Zachary Anderson, 19, also of the 1022 Engineering Company, was excited and nervous when he received a text before Ida hit that “we were at 100% call up.”

“This is my first call,” said Anderson. “I just started college at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (and wondered) ‘How will that work?’ ‘What do I pack?’ ‘How long will I be gone?’ ”  

Anderson’s group is located at ICC and stationed at a pod site that was handing out water, MREs, tarps and ice to those who have no power. 

Anderson stated, “I didn’t expect it to be this severe. People are still lined around the block. So many people still do not have power or clean drinking water.” 

He was grateful for what ICC had done for the Guard and people. The National Guard was so thankful to the ICC community they asked what they could do for them. ICC requested the soldiers clear some dried up crepe myrtles on the property. They took care of the request quickly.

“This community has done so much for us. We thank them for their hospitality. The National Guard is here to help those in need, it’s what we do. It’s what we signed up for,” said Anderson.