ST. BERNARD PARISH, La. (WGNO) – People gathered in Shell Beach, in St. Bernard Parish, to honor those who died in Hurricane Katrina and reflect on life since the storm that changed their parish. Catherine Serpas, who lives in St. Bernard, came out to get closure.
“It’s put to bed for me this is the last one I’m going to,” Serpas described. “This will be the end of Katrina for me, as far as, going through any kind of events again.”
Neighbors and friends listened to speeches by current and former parish officials. Archbishop Emeritus Alfred Hughes provided a homily.
“It’s kind of a bittersweet,” Wanda Alcon, St. Bernard Parish resident, said. “I still get teary-eyed over what happened, but thankful we are all here and our parish survived. And, we can move on. “
“I found myself being very emotional after this ten years. I never gave myself time to grieve, and now it’s time to put it to rest. I’m here to commemorate those lives lost here in the parish,” Juanita Coco, who lives in Meraux, stated.
The event took place next to the St. Bernard Hurricane Katrina Memorial, which list the names of the more than 160 people killed in the parish during the storm.
Peggy Denley came to see the monument and honor her mother and aunt whose died during the storm.
“Still sad, but life goes on,” Denley said. ”I know my mom wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The names of all those lost in the storm were read aloud. Then, their families placed a wreath in the water.
After the memorial, Serpas says she’s ready to move forward.
“We think about the people that died all the time. I pray for the people that died all the time. But, we the people who are here and have to move on,” Serpas stated. “I think we need to move on from this…ten years is our date for us to move on. “