National Day of the Acadians, August 15th, 2003. Celebrate with us at the Acadian Memorial! Highlight of the Day - Mural Characters Now Have a Voice Join us for the premiere of a new mural audio interactive project at the Acadian Memorial. The characters have been looking out silently since the creation of artist, Robert Dafford's " The Arrival of the Acadians in Louisiana" was completed. Now because of a grant from the Louisiana Endowment of the Humanities written by Sylvia Bienvenu and Brenda Comeaux Trahan, the project, "Putting a Face on Acadian History," allows the characters to tell their stories of leaving their homeland by force, of their arrival in a new home in Louisiana and of the separation with their family members forever. The narratives tell the tales of Acadian mural characters through research from, Dr. Carl Brasseaux, author and Professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Christy Maraist, AM Foundation President. Raymond Hebert serves as narrator of the program with characters Elizabeth Thibodeaux Brasseaux played by Earlene Broussard, Joseph Broussard dit Beausoleil played by Richard ! Landry, Joseph Semer played by John Albert Landry, and Olivier Theriot played by Philippe Gustin. This very emotional program is being enjoyed by many tourist, school children and Acadians themselves. Special guest will be Representative W.J."Billy" Tauzin who will be made Honorary Acadian of the Day. Artist of the mural, Robert Dafford, will be present to hear the mural characters who he painted, come alive with an emotional presentation of the Acadians' survival. We look forward to your presence. Refreshments will be served. Merci, Brenda Comeaux Trahan Curator / Director Acadian Memorial