Murray Naquin, military park founder Submitted by N.O.V.A. September 2006 Times Picayune 08-05-2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Murray Louis Naquin, a founding member of the Louisiana Medal of Honor Park and Museum in Belle Chasse, died Wednesday of a brain tumor at his home in Belle Chasse. He was 75. Mr. Naquin was born in Gretna and lived in Belle Chasse for the past 40 years. The Medal of Honor Park started as a beautification project to dress up one of the main roadways to the Naval Air Station- Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse and evolved into a 32-acre park dedicated to honoring Medal of Honor recipients. As park coordinator for 11 years, Mr. Naquin worked with local residents, businesses and military members to raise money and awareness for the project and, with the park committee, enlisted the aid of Navy Reserve Seabees to speed up the construction. On Barriere Road just north of the Naval Air Station, the park features a memorial composed of five concrete star points, representing the star depicted on the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for military valor. The points are grouped around a paved plaza with a flagpole in the center. Plans call for a museum with a small theater, an open-air chapel, small monuments dedicated to each branch of the armed services and a walking path around a pond. "He was a very dedicated public servant, very dedicated to the Medal of Honor project," Plaquemines Parish President Benny Rousselle said. "For Plaquemines, if it's ever completed, the park will be quite an attraction. And without him, we wouldn't have what we have now, which is a really good start." Professionally, Mr. Naquin served as safety director for the Oil Chemical & Atomic Workers Local 4-447 for 10 years, during which he led many safety campaigns in the community, organizing the Buck for a Buckle Drive to promote seat belt use by motorists and giving demonstrations to local schoolchildren on bicycle safety. A graduate of Gretna High School, Mr. Naquin served in the Navy during the Korean war. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Jeannine Collignon Naquin; his son, Perry Louis Naquin; his daughter Dory Jean Naquin; two brothers, Henry and Sterling "Buck" Naquin; and three grandchildren. A wake will be held Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m at Mothe's Funeral Home, 7040 Lapalco Blvd., Marrero. A Mass will be said Monday at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 8968 Louisiana 23, Belle Chasse. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m.