|
The Louisiana Airborne Memorial
Bridge. In 1989 the Acadiana Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association petitioned the Louisiana Legislature asking them
to designate the 18 mile elevated expressway bridge across the Atchafalaya as the Louisiana Airborne Memorial Bridge.
Chapters of the 82nd Airborne Division Association throughout the U.S. have also succeeded in having bridges designated in their states as “Airborne Memorial Bridges.”
The National 82nd Airborne Division Association’s purpose
was to honor the veterans of all US Army “Airborne” units, those paratroopers and glider-borne soldiers who carried out some of the most fearsome feats of American wartime action, jumping behind enemy lines in order to seize bridges (one reason for designating “Airborne Memorial Bridges”), airfields and other strategic objectives. The purpose for these missions was to seize military objectives in advance of
American invasion forces. The successes of these “Airborne
Assaults” were critical in ensuring American victory in WW II,
following wars and combat deployments of American forces.
The Monument
Act 793 of the Louisiana Legislature dated July 10, 1989 designated the Elevated Atchafalaya Bridge, as The
“Louisiana Airborne Memorial Bridge.” The formal dedication of the monument occurred October 20, 1990.
We invite you to walk to the monument and contemplate the
service of our Airborne Forces and relax on the benches
provided. The Acadiana Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, it’s members and the Woodmen of the World raised the funds to erect the monument you see here on these grounds.
America’s Airborne Forces
Airborne forces developed at the beginning of WW II, consisted of Army Parachute and Glider-borne soldiers. These men formed up the famous 82nd, 101st, 11th, 17th and 13th Airborne Divisions.
Additionally separate Parachute
Battalions and Regiments were formed and accomplished amazing feats. These included the 550th and 551st Parachute Infantry Battalions, the 517th Airborne Regimental Combat Team and OSS units. The success of the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Salerno
Italy, Normandy, Southern France, Holland, New Guinea, the
Philippines and the recapture of Corrigidor Island were all
accomplished or enhanced by these parachute and gliderborne
soldiers from the sky.
Today’s Airborne Forces
Today America relies on the famed 82nd Airborne Division,
the 101st Airborne Division, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the
75th Airborne Ranger Regiment and the US Army Special
Forces including the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 19th and 20th, SF
Groups (Green Berets) to protect and defend the nation.
The Acadiana Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division meets in
Lafayette, Louisiana and invites any and all “Airborne” veterans to contact us. If you live in Louisiana, we invite your membership. If you live elsewhere and wish to receive
information on the 82nd Airborne Division Association or any
of the other Airborne Associations or Societies contact the
Acadiana Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association
by calling (337) 684-6175 or writing Acadiana Chapter, 2424
Pierre Matte Road; Branch, LA 70516.
Located at Ex. 121 on Interstate 10 East of Lafyette, Loouisiana at Beau La Rose.
|