SLS 15RS-601 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 34
BY SENATOR JOHN SMITH
COMMENDATIONS. Commends the Mill Creek Pentecostal Church and Cemetery upon
the celebration of its 100
th
anniversary.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend the Mill Creek Pentecostal Church and Cemetery upon the celebration of its
3 one hundredth anniversary.
4 WHEREAS, the site of the Mill Creek Pentecostal Church and Cemetery is on
5 property currently owned by the United States Army, and occupied by the Joint Readiness
6 Training Center and Fort Polk; and
7 WHEREAS, the Mill Creek Cemetery is recorded as an archaeological site by the
8 office of Cultural Development, division of archaeology, and is protected by the
9 Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979; and
10 WHEREAS, the earliest deaths recorded at the Mill Creek Cemetery are shared by
11 the infant children, Daniel Thorton, Charlie Nash, Emma Perkins, Lena Maddox, Allie Mae
12 Haymon, and Dock Haymon Jr.; and
13 WHEREAS, the first pastor of the Mill Creek Pentecostal Church was the late
14 Reverend William C. Haymon, who founded the church after a series of revival meetings;
15 and
16 WHEREAS, even though the church and cemetery site has long been void of
17 structures, it now hosts a single sign post which was ceremonially emplaced in 2008, based
18 on oral histories documented by the Heritage Family Association; and
Page 1 of 2 SR NO. 34
SLS 15RS-601 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, shortly after the Louisiana Maneuvers, a series of U.S. Army exercises
2 involving four hundred thousand troops, the church enjoyed its silver anniversary in 1940;
3 and
4 WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of War petitioned the U.S. Congress to exercise
5 is fifth amendment right to acquire more land to train an ill-prepared army for certain battle,
6 and the little church and cemetery were lost in the frenzy; and
7 WHEREAS, author and archaeologist, Brad Laffitte, has recognized that early church
8 congregant descendants still live in nearby areas, and that the church was primarily about
9 worship, but was also an important social gathering site; and
10 WHEREAS, the Heritage Family Association will commemorate the one hundredth
11 anniversary of the Mill Creek Pentecostal Church and Cemetery on April 25, 2015, with a
12 dinner, gospel music, and guest speakers who remain deeply influenced by the early church;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, the master of ceremonies for the celebration, Brother William "Billy"
15 Nash, is to provide historical accounts of the church ministry, cemetery, and connect family
16 surnames that were instrumental in their foundation, while commemorating the church, the
17 cemetery, and the sacrifices made by the Heritage families.
18 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
19 does hereby commend Mill Creek Pentecostal Church and Cemetery upon the celebration
20 of its one hundredth anniversary.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
22 Heritage Family Association, Reverend William Nash, and Ted Hammerschmidt.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michelle Broussard-Johnson.
DIGEST
SR 34 Original 2015 Regular Session John Smith
Commends Mill Creek Pentecostal Church and Cemetery upon the celebration of its 100
th
anniversary.
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