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