FRANKLIN, La.—On Monday, August 19, 2024 at Noonat City Hall the City of Franklin will be conducting a LIVE Virtual Wreath Laying/Flag Raising Ceremony in honor of Army Ranger, 2nd Lt. Edward V. Loustalot whom was the 1stAmerican Solider to die in Nazi occupied Europe during World War II on August 19, 1942. KQKI 95.3 FM will be collaborating with the City of Franklin and Petite Caux, France to dual live stream this ceremony. The French government and its citizens have commemorated and memorialized Lt. Loustalot annually since August 19, 1946.
The City of Franklin and the Loustalot family was made aware of this in October of 2019 when the City was contacted by Ms. Diane Boutier, an American board member, of the “Memorial du 19 Aout 1942” museum in Dieppe, France. Ms. Boutier and a small delegate from France traveled to Franklin in January 2020 to help usher in the City’s Bicentennial Celebration presentations to tell this amazing Louisiana story. At the presentation the City’s Mayor Eugene Foulcard and Public Relations Director, Ed “Tiger” Verdin were presented medals of honorary citizenship from the Mayor of Berneval Le Grand, France.
Lt. Edward Loustalot was one of the first 50 select U.S. Army Rangers embedded with British & Canadian Commandos in what is now known as Operation Jubilee or the Dieppe Raid of August 19, 1942. Unfortunately Lt. Loustalot was killed in action during the raid. This raid ultimately gave U.S. and Allied forces a blueprint for the invasion of the beaches of Normandy on D-Day.