Reaching 100: Friends, family honor Gen. LeBlanc, who received letter from Pres. Biden

Not often one gets a letter from the president of the United States, plus, have it read in front of 200-plus friends and family who were attending your birthday party.
That is what happened Saturday at Gen. Bob LeBlanc’s 100th birthday party put together by his daughters, Dr. Denise LeBlanc Ziegler and Donna LeBlanc Thibodeaux.
The daughters invited more than 200 guests to honor their father.
Gene Sellers is a long-time friend of Gen. LeBlanc. Sellers, who is in his early 90s, was able to get Pres. Joe Biden to send Gen. LeBlanc a letter recognizing his birthday.
Sellers read the letter to the crowd.
“As commander of chief, I am honored to join your family and friends in celebrating your 100th birthday. I am grateful for your distinguished service and dedication to our freedom and our democracy over the course of your military career. You are part of a generation that helped define who we are as Americans. Jill and I wish you health and happiness in the years ahead. May God bless you, and may God protect our troops.”
Sincerely, President Joe Biden.
He also received a proclamation from Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards.
M.E. Taylor, the deputy chief of staff from the intergovernmental affairs office of Gov. Edwards, handed him the proclamation.
U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins sent Gen. LeBlanc an American Flag that flew over the Capitol in Washington D.C.
Community Outreach, Field Representatives for the Third Congressional District, Tyrone Glover, delivered the flag to LeBlanc.
“To have someone who fought in the war and reached the age of a hundred years old is a blessing,” said Community Outreach, Field Representatives for the Third Congressional District, Tyrone Glover. “Being here for a veteran who fought so diligently so we can have the freedom that we have today is a blessing and an honor to be here.”
Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza, who has been the mayor of Abbeville for 20 years, said it was Gen. LeBlanc who helped Abbeville through hurricanes and tropical storms.
“There is no greater leader in the parish than Gen. Bob LeBlanc,” said Mayor Piazza. “He has proven it over and over and over. We have learned so much from. Gen. LeBlanc.”
The mayor said Abbeville has generators because of Gen. LeBlanc.
“I have been through 17 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms in my 20 years as mayor. We are so prepared because of his lessons and preparations that we learned it is almost second nature.
“I want to thank him from the bottom of my heart,” said Mayor Piazza.
In 1942, the Army commissioned LeBlanc as a second lieutenant, and due to his ability to speak French, he served as a liaison officer in the 3rd U.S. Army Headquarters - Special Operations between Gen. Patton’s Third Army and the French Underground.
After World War II, he became part of the Louisiana National Guard, and he helped organize H-Company 156th Infantry, Regiment, 256th IBCT in Abbeville.
He rose to the rank of Brigadier General and became the Commanding General of the Louisiana National Guard.
He served as emergency operations in Vermilion Parish for more than 50 years.
Another job he held was with the U.S. Post Office, and he retired from the Post Office in his 60s. After that, he became a member of Abbeville General’s Hospital Board, a position he held until into his 90s.
LeBlanc was happy he was able to attend his 100th birthday.
”It feels good. It acknowledges some of the work I’ve done in the past. It means I’m doing what I should be doing.”