Erath 4th of July Celebration
1997 Grand Marshal Belva Comeaux LeBlanc

 

       It is with great pride that the Erath 4th of July Association announces that Mrs. Belva Comeaux LeBlanc has been selected as the 1997  Grand Marshall. Mrs. Landry has been selected because of her long-time dedication to the community of Erath.

    Belva Comeaux LeBlanc was born July 18, 1927 and was raised in the Coteau area of Iberia Parish. Her parents, Ophe Comeaux and Rose Belle Langlinais, were farmers. Raised in a traditional Acadian family, Belva began school speaking only French. Her grandmother, Agenoria Sandoz, taught her how to read in French. Right before she entered high school, her father gave up farming and went on to become a very successful car salesman. Belva graduated with the class of 1944 from New Iberia Senior High.

    She has been an active Catholic Daughter for over 40 years. She was also a charter member of the Vermilion Tourist Commission.

    Each year she helps in the distribution of food baskets for the needy and elderly families at Christmas sponsored by the Catholic Daughters of America. Belva has been a member of the Ladies Alter Society of our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church for the past 20 years.

     They are both members of the Vermilion Association for Retarded Citizens located in Erath with Mr. Shug serving as President and Belva serving as Secretary for over 25 years. Their love and devotion for the disabled clients is obvious to anyone who visits the center.

    In 1997, the Knights of Columbus awarded them the "Family of the Year" award. Both have been very involved in the creation and establishment of the Acadian Museum in Erath, with Mr. Shug helping with a hammer while Belva assists as a volunteer speaking in French to foreign visitors.

     The Acadian Museum, for the first time ever, inducted a husband and wife team, Aldon "Shug" and his wife Belva LeBlanc for their unselfish civic work in Vermilion Parish.