Breau family newsletter Contact Gayle it get a formatted one & subscribe to the newsletter Last time they had a mass followed by a breakfast. (Will the priest be available to hear the confessions of those who have fallen by the wayside?) Around the corner from the church is the nation known weekly Saturday Morning Musical ============================================== Nouvelle Breaux du Monde La Famille Breaux du Monde Association A newsletter for all Breaux – Breau– Brault – Breault – Braud –Brot – Brow – Brough July, 2015 Email: [email protected] Facebook Group: Breaux du Monde Tuesday, July 28, 2015 National Day of Remembrance Acadian Memorial, St. Martinville, LA [From the Acadian Memorial newsletter] On July 28, we celebrate the ‘’Day of Commemoration of the Great Upheaval’’ of the Acadians, as proclaimed in 2003 by the Canadian representative of the Queen of England. On July 28 in 1755, the order came down to deport the Acadians from Acadie. Please join us from 3-5pm as we honor the Acadian ancestors, and as Sylvia Bienvenue, a long-time educator and Acadian Memorial Foundation Board member, is inducted into the Order of Living Legends. The Foundation selects a recipient each year to be inducted into the Order, established by Warren Perrin and the Acadian Museum in Erath. Since 1997, the museum has recognized and honored those individuals who have helped shape and define the Cajun culture. A reception follows the program. If you have any questions call 337-394-2233 or visit www.acadianmemorial.org and facebook/acadiamemorial Acadian Memorial July 28, 2015 – year end 2015 Acadian Memorial, St. Martinville, LA 10:00 a.m. – 4:40 p.m. 7 days a week http://www.acadianmemorial.org/ Celebrating 250 years of Acadian presence in the Opelousas and Attakapas Districts, journey through historical documents from the Grand Pré registers at the Diocese of Baton Rouge, the earliest documents of the Acadians from St. Martin de Tours, the parish courthouse, and other significant documents. 250th Anniversary of Acadians’ arrival & Grand Reveil Acadien Great Acadian Awakening [GRA2014] activities are being planned from October 3–12, 2015 throughout south Louisiana. Visit http://www.louisiane-acadie.com Program link: http://louisiane-acadie.com/uploads/3/4/9/4/3494917/programenglish.pdf Breaux family gathering Saturday morning, October 10, 2015: In conjunction with Grand Reveil Acadien [GRA2015] Breaux du Monde Association is working on a schedule of events for a family gathering in Breaux Bridge, LA. Plan to join us to meet cousins and learn more about our genealogy. Breaux family genealogist to join us! Breaux family genealogist Robert Brault of Laval, Quebec, Canada is planning to be with us in October. Robert together with Clarence Breaux [dec.] of Metairie, LA co-authored A Breau Genealogy. Robert is generous with his time in assisting Breaux family members trace their lineage. If you are interested in purchasing Robert’s book, contact him at [email protected] Microtel Inn & Suites, 2880 Reese Street Extension, Breaux Bridge is offering a discount rate for Breaux family members for GRA2015. Call 337/332-0432 and mention “Breaux Family Reunion” for a special rate. Breaux du Monde T-Shirt: Attached is an order form for the Breaux du Monde T-Shirt. The 100% white cotton shirt will have black printing with a “world” on front with Breaux du Monde on top and Breaux Bridge, LA on bottom. On back will be a shadow of a Fleur de Lis and all the Breaux spellings. Below is a copy of the 1999 t-shirt; the 2015 t-shirt will be very similar, but different. All orders must be prepaid. Please send the completed form together with your check or money order as soon as possible. See attached order form for additional details. Front will be similar Rear will have all the Breaux But will not have spellings. “Family Reunion” or Date. Confederation of Associations of Families Acadian Go to the CAFA website for links to other Breaux du Monde newsletters, as well as other Acadian families’ contacts. http://www.cafa.org/ Copied from the AMF Calling All Cajuns issue May, 2015. Mavis Fruge Mavis Frugé of Arnaudville was awarded the Ordre des Pair acadèmiques (Order of Academic Palms) by Grègor Trumel, the Consul General of France in New Orleans at the 2015 Louisiana Culture Awards. The award is presented to selected individuals who promote the expansion of French culture. Recipients are decided upon by the French Minister of Education. The presentation naming Frugé as a Knight in the Order of the Academic Palms was held in Baton Rouge at the Capital Park Museum on April 14th. A lifelong advocate of culture, language and tourism, Mavis is also a member of the Acadian Memorial Foundation Board of Directors. Her Table Français in Arnaudville has become a cornerstone of cultural activity. On commenting about the recent presentation, Mavis said, “To have been so honored for doing the things I love to do is just incredible. I cherish our French, the traditions we value and enjoy. I want it all to survive for other generations to appreciate. And we can’t lose sight of the fact that our French culture does wonders for tourism and that is so good for the economy.” Her closing comments after receiving the award was a heartfelt sentiment, “...To all of you who still speak our Louisiana French, be proud. Merci. Thank you.” “Footsteps in Time” I had the honor of giving my Breaux family talk in Thibodaux to the Cercle Francophone, as well as members of the Loudun, France twinning group, and other Breaux “cousins.” The “French table” has been meeting every Tuesday for about five years. Thibodaux has twinned with Loudun since 1978 and recently hosted 33 Loudunais for 10 days. On this last trip Gilles Thibaudault, a descendant of Thibodaux’s founder Henry Schuyler Thibodaux, returned to Thibodaux for the second time. Marlene Breaux Toups organized this great audience at the Jean Lafitte National Park Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center. –Gayle Breaux Smith The Acadian Flag of Louisiana Uncle Tom’s Flag By Marie Louise Gerac You probably see this flag often, and to you it is the Louisiana Acadian flag or the Cajun flag. In our family it is “Uncle Tom’s” flag. Uncle Tom was one of my mother’s brothers, Thomas J. Arceneaux, longtime Dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now ULL) in Lafayette. He was among the first to promote our Acadian history and culture. As early as 1949 he represented Louisiana as our state’s official representative to the Conseil de la Vie Francaise en Amerique at Laval University in Quebec, Canada. In 1955 he was named an Officier d’Academie by France. Also in 1955, he was the head of the Louisiana delegation to the Acadian Bicentennial Celebration in Canada. He was president of the Louisiana Bicentennial Celebration in 1955 and co-chaired the Acadian Celebration in 1965. The Acadian flag was commissioned for the 1965 event and was designed by Thomas J. Arceneaux. The Louisiana state legislature made it the official flag of the 22 parishes of Acadiana in 1974. He was a charter member of CODOFIL. Neither Uncle Tom nor France-Amerique ever obtained a copyright for the flag. It is ours to use and be proud of as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the arrival of the Acadians in Louisiana and the 50th anniversary of our flag. The best explanation of the flag I have found are Uncle Tom’s own words: The year 1965 marked the two hundredth anniversary of the arrival of the exiled Acadians in Louisiana. In commemoration of that significant event, the Acadian Committee of France-Amerique de la Louisiane Acadienne sponsored a year-long celebration entitled “Two Centuries of Acadian Culture in Louisiana.” One of the official acts of the committee was a strong recommendation for the approval of an Acadian flag designed and described by the writer. France-Amerique de la Louisiane Acadienne readily approved the proposal and thus, since 1965, the Acadians of Louisiana have their own official flag, now proudly flown, under the American flag, throughout Louisiana. Following is the official description of the flag shown at left: To symbolize the French origin of the Acadians, a portion of the arms of their mother country, their fleurs de lis, silver on a blue field, is used as part of the flag. To symbolize Spain, the nation which controlled Louisiana at the time of the Acadian migration to Louisiana and under whom they prospered after years of exile, the old arms of Castille, a gold tower on a red field, appears in one section of the flag. The gold star on the white field represents Our Lady of the Assumption, Maris Stella, Patroness of the Acadians. The star also symbolizes the active participation of the Acadians in the American Revolution as soldiers under Galvez. [Marie Louise is descended from Vincent Brault’s eighth child Jean Breau, and she also has lineage from Firmin Breaux who was descended from Vincent’s seventh child Franocis. Marie Louise Braud Gerac grew up in Gonzales. She and her husband Lyle live in The Woodlands, TX.] NEED AN ACADIAN FLAG? Contact Andrea at Perez Art & Flag 202 Guilbeau Street, Breaux Bridge, LA Phone: 337/230-1796 Email: [email protected] Saturday, August 15, 2015 National Day of the Acadians Acadian Memorial, St. Martinville, LA http://www.acadianmemorial.org/ Events throughout the day beginning at 9:00 a.m. For over 130 years August 15 has been celebrated as the National Day of the Acadians. In 1881 the first National Acadian Convention was held in Memramcook, New Brunswick. The group gathered to discuss issues, such as agriculture, pertaining to the Acadians. At that convention, August 15 – the Feast of the Assumption – was chosen as the national holiday to celebrate Acadian culture. A tintamarre is usually part of this day of celebration. [Per Wikipedia: Tintamarre is an Acadian tradition of marching through one's community making noise with improvised instruments and other noisemakers, usually in celebration of National Acadian Day. The term originates from the Acadian French word meaning "clangour" or "din". The practice is intended to demonstrate the vitality and solidarity of Acadian society, and to remind others of the presence of Acadians. It originated in the mid-twentieth century, likely inspired by an ancient French folk custom.] Planning ahead: Congres Mondial Acadien 2019 Moncton and Prince Edward Island [See CMA2019 Facebook page.] Genealogy assistance: What is your BREAUX lineage? YOU NEED TO KNOW!!!!! Let us assist you trace your Breaux family lineage. Contact [email protected] and we’ll help!!!! Other contacts for assistance are:  Calice Breaux [email protected]  Paul LeBlanc [email protected]  Robert Brault [email protected] Breaux du Monde Association The Breaux du Monde Association was originally formed prior to the 1999 Congres Mondial held in Louisiana. The Great Acadian Awakening in October, 2011 was an opportunity to revitalize the Breaux du Monde Association. Membership: Dues are $10 per family. Checks should be made payable to “Breaux du Monde Association” and mailed to Gayle Breaux Smith, 7251 Palmetto Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808. 2015 Breaux du Monde Officers: President: Gayle Breaux Smith 7251 Palmetto Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 Phone: 225/766-8970 [email protected] Vice President: Daniel (Dan) Breaux 4027 St. Joseph St., Lake Charles, LA 70605 Phone: 337/540-2313 [email protected] Secretary: Calice Breaux 7300 Landry Rd., Duson, LA 70529 Phone: 337/334-3747 [email protected] Treasurer: Roy Breaux 102 Hagan Rd., Youngsville, LA 70592 Phone: 337/856-0082 [email protected] Board members: Bercie Breaux Alleman, Duson, LA P. O. Box 142, Duson, LA James Bourque, 1340 Détente Rd., Youngsville, LA 70592 [email protected] Chad Breaux, Lafayette, LA 413 N. Locksley Dr., Lafayette, LA 70508 Phone: 337/233-1657 [email protected] Gloria Breaux Sanchez P. O. Box 552, Duson, LA 70529 Phone: 337/277-9107 [email protected] Breaux du Monde Contacts: Email: [email protected] Facebook Group: Breaux du Monde Please share this newsletter with your Breaux family contacts and friends. >From time to time postings will also be made on the Breaux du Monde Facebook Group. Please free to contact any officer for information.