By Carey Hamblin

A Blue Mass was held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bastrop on Oct. 4. This mass is held yearly to bless and honor all forms of first responders. They begin with Honor Guard, the Pledge of Allegiance, our National Anthem and then the mass service. After the mass, first responders and the public in attendance were served lunch by students from St. Fredericks Catholic High School.

A few in attendance included:
Ashley County Arkansas Sheriff Office, Bastrop City Police, Ouchita Parish Sheriff Office, Louisiana State Police, Morehouse Parish Sheriff Mike Tubbs and deputies,
Monroe Fire Department, Bastrop Fire Department, AirMedCare Medical Evacuation team and also various judges and officials from the area. Also in attendance was Pat Carruth along with other volunteers for Louisiana Concerns of Police Survivors organization. This organization is the “First Responder” for the families of officers killed in the line of duty.