City of Lake Charles, Louisiana

      Sweet Lake Land and Oil Company Donates to

     First Lieutenant Douglas B. Fournet Memorial

At the April 24 Lake Charles City Council Agenda Meeting, The Sweet Lake Land and Oil Company, LLC presented a check for $5,000 to the Mayor's Committee for the First Lieutenant Douglas B. Fournet Memorial and the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana.

The funds will be used in support of a project to erect a statue of First Lieutenant Douglas B. Fournet for Veterans Memorial Park.  Fournet, a native of Lake Charles, was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously in April of 1970, for his selfless act of sacrifice in May of 1968 during the Vietnam War.

The Medal of Honor is presented by the President of the United States in the name of Congress and is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon any American of the U. S. Armed Forces.

Said Mayor Randy Roach, co-chair, Mayor's Committee for the First Lieutenant Douglas B. Fournet Memorial:

"We sincerely appreciate the generosity of Sweet Lake Land and Oil in making this major donation for the First Lieutenant Douglas B. Fournet Memorial.  The statue will serve as a lasting tribute to First Lieutenant Fournet and to all our veterans who have honorably served our country."

Said District Attorney John DeRosier, chair, Mayor's Committee for the First Lieutenant Douglas B. Fournet Memorial:

"We are grateful for the generous donation received from the Leach family.  Their donation will assist in making the dream of honoring a fallen hero possible."

The City of Lake Charles has a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana.  All contributions to help pay for the cost of the project can be mailed to: Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, P.O. Box 3125, Lake Charles, LA  70602; or by hand delivery to the Foundation at 120 W. Pujo St., Suite 120, Lake Charles.  Donations can also be received online through the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, a non-profit organization, at www.foundationswla.org.  Checks should be made to: Community Foundation, with "First Lieutenant Douglas B. Fournet Memorial" in the subject line.  Individuals with questions should contact Lisa Verrette at 491-6688.

The Committee's project fundraising goal is to raise $100,000.   Additional funding received beyond the goal amount will be used for the support entrance structure and future renovations to the park.

On Saturday, June 23, at 6 p.m., the Mayor's Committee for the First Lieutenant Douglas B. Fournet Memorial will host a fundraiser - banquet for the project at the Lake Charles Civic Center Buccaneer Room, 900 Lakeshore Dr.  Guest speaker will be Bill Fournet, son of Medal of Honor recipient Douglas B. Fournet.  For ticket and other information, please contact Lisa Verrette at 491-6688.

More information about the project can be found at the City of Lake Charles website www.cityoflakecharles.com.  At the homepage go to Hot Topics and click on the link "Doug Fournet Memorial."   Also, contact Jim Jackson at 309-9604; or Scott Raymond, City of Lake Charles, 491-9176.

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The City of Lake Charles fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities.   For more information, or to obtain a Title VI Complaint Form, see the City of Lake Charles website- www.cityoflakecharles.com  or call the Mayor's Action Line at (337) 491-1346, or contact the appropriate Department Head, or call the Title VI coordinator at (337) 491-1440.