Guédry et Petitpas Reunion & Grand Réveil Acadien 2022

GUÉDRY AND HÉBERT REUNION RECAP
SATURDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2022
RAYNE, LOUISIANA

With approximately 200 people attending, the Guédry and Hébert families had a very successful Reunion on 8 October 2022 at the Rayne Civic Center Ballroom in Rayne, Louisiana. Throughout the day folks reacquainted with old friends and met new ones as there were many long breaks in the agenda. Additionally, both families had very informative displays on family history and genealogy to study and enjoy.

One big hit was a piece of the Guédry Rock that made its appearance after being absent for several years. In 1999 the Guédry family successfully had a large granite boulder brought from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia to Louisiana just in time for the Guédry Reunion in Houma, Louisiana that year. In the 1600s and early 1700s the small hamlet of Merliguèche was located where today’s Lunenburg now stands. Here a small group of Acadians made their home alongside a community of Mi’kmaq. Among the Acadians was the family of Claude Guédry and Marguerite Petitpas - our paternal ancestors. Folks at the 1999 Reunion enjoyed touching the Guédry Rock as a symbol of connecting with their paternal Guédry & Petitpas ancestors. At our Reunion on 8 October attendees enjoyed the same experience as they softly touched the piece of the Guédry Rock.

Acadian flags representing Acadians worldwide, the Cajuns of Louisiana and the Acadians of Maine and New England were displayed throughout the ballroom. Tables and decorations were adorned in the Acadian colors of red, white, blue and yellow.

As folks entered the ballroom, they registered and received a packet of gifts provided by the Acadia Parish Tourist Commission and Les Guédry et Petitpas d’Asteur. They then mingled with other attendees, viewed the displays setup throughout the room and talked with authors and artists.

Marty Guidry, President of Les Guédry et Petitpas d’Asteur, called the Reunion to order at 9:00 am with a brief welcoming to all. John Hebert, President of L’Association des Hébert du Monde, welcomed all the Hébert and Guédry cousins to the Reunion. Deacon Denis Francis LaCroix then offered a very moving opening prayer to set the tone for the gathering. A beautiful recording of the Ave Maris Stella, the Acadian National Hymn, filled the room as folks remembered the sufferings of our Acadian ancestors during the Deportations and Dérangement.

After a brief break the Cajun Band La-To-Pea Ramblers broke into a rousing two-step that had everyone tapping their feet and clapping. David Guidry on bass, Jimmy Breaux on drums, Jamie Bearb on fiddle and Brandon Degeyter on diatonic accordion mixed Cajun two-steps and waltzes throughout the hour. These accomplished musicians have played with some of the finest Cajun bands of south Louisiana. All are directly related to the Guidry family through their paternal and maternal roots and have Hebert connections also. Of course, it is difficult to find any Cajun in south Louisiana that is not directly related to the Guédry and Hébert families. Throughout the hour Irving and Doris Thibodeaux demonstrated Cajun dancing to the enjoyment of all attendees.

For those with a culinary bent Barry Guidry, E. J. Guidry and Jay Guidry were out back preparing our dinner of jambalaya and white beans alongside a batch of pork cracklins. Many folks went out back to talk with the chefs and try their hand at stirring the pot as they listened to the sizzling cracklins.

As the band played their last waltz, we prepared to honor six of our Guédry family by inducting them into the Les Guédry et Petitpas d’Asteur Circle of Distinction. Those honored were Richard P. “Dick” Guidry of Lafourche Parish, LA for his outstanding service to his community and state as a Louisiana State Representative; Paul L. Guidry, Sr. of St. John the Baptist Parish, LA for his service to the United States with the U. S. Travel Service in Mexico and France and the International Trade Association; Scott Guidry of Carencro, LA and Bemidji, MN for his service in the U. S. Air Force as Conductor and Director of USAF Bands in Washington, D.C. and Europe and as Director of Bands at Bemidji State University; Kelly Guidry of Breaux Bridge, LA for his innovative art using wood and metal to reflect the flora, fauna, culture and people of his native Acadiana; Eugene Pettipas of Halifax, Nova Scotia for his award-winning career in motorsports as a competitor, builder, team owner and sponsor and Marcel Labine of Montréal, Canada for his career as one of Canada’s outstanding poets. Each honoree received a Certificate and a Medal with the family crest.

As the chefs began preparing the plates of chicken jambalaya, white beans and rolls, folks got a plate and sat with friends to enjoy the dinner and chat about the Reunion and old times together. As the last bites were eaten, the desserts were on the counter for all to partake. Pecan pies, pumpkin pies, apple pies, fudges, cookies, pralines and a variety of other sweets were there for the taking. Surprisingly, as the dinner break came to an end, nothing was left on the counter. Folks seemed to have enjoyed the superb meal that Barry, E.J. and Jay had prepared in their iron pots and the desserts brought by the attendees.

As the Reunion resumed, folks settled down to hear two of our family members present their research. Art Guidry of St. Landry Parish, LA and New York City, NY presented “Seeking My Roots: A Louisiana Creole Genealogical Study from St. Landry Parish” in which he discussed his genealogical journey to discover his Guidry descendancy from a St. Landry Parish plantation family and justice of the peace and a free woman of color of St. Landry Parish. He also discussed the role of his parents in educating children of St. Landry Parish and his attending a Rosenwald School in Plaisance, LA.

At the break the chefs set out the pork cracklins and boudin for all to enjoy. They were an immediate hit and went fast.

Greg Wood of Olney, MD, a recognized expert on the Acadians of Maryland, then reviewed his recent 1600- page book The Frenchified State of Maryland. Greg discussed the three French groups that settled in Maryland - the early French of Europe, the Acadians deported to Maryland in 1755 and the Saint-Domingue refugees that escaped the slave revolt in 1794. Greg’s exhaustive research provided new insights into the Acadians that remained in Maryland after 1770 - how they blended into Maryland society and how many became prominent citizens.

There were many questions for both presenters on various aspects of their presentations.

Throughout the day authors and artists had booths where they discussed with the attendees their unique work and had items available for purchase. Les Guédry et Petitpas d’Asteur also had a sales table with books and souvenirs for purchase.

As the Reunion ended, folks left with a smile on their faces, old friendships renewed, new friendships made and a determination to attend the next Reunion in St. Alphonse, Nova Scotia on August 16-17, 2024.

Many thanks to all that helped with the Reunion including Rachel Killingsworth, Jeff Killingsworth, Allie Guidry, Jeanette Guidry Leger, Deacon Denis Francis LaCroix, Greg Wood, Lynn Wood, Barry Guidry, E. J. Guidry, Jay Guidry, John Hebert, Martha Royer, the Acadia Parish Tourist Commission, David Guidry, Daniel “Chuck” Guidry, Eric Guidry, Nolan Guidry, the La-To-Pea Ramblers Band (David Guidry, Jamie Bearb, Jimmy Breaux, Brandon Degeyter), Irving and Doris Thibodeaux and Lionel Guidry. And special thanks to all the Guidry and Hebert attendees and friends that made the Reunion an outstanding success.

THE REUNION IS COMING!!!

GUÉDRY AND HÉBERT REUNION
SATURDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2022
RAYNE CIVIC CENTER BALLROOM
RAYNE, LOUISIANA
(ALL FREE!!)

After two years of delays, the Guédry and Hébert Reunion will be here shortly. Plans are being finalized and preparations made. It will be a great time for all of us to get out again, renew acquaintances with our cousins and friends and meet new cousins. Begin making your plans to attend.

We have a great Cajun band - La-To Pea Ramblers - kicking off our morning to awaken everyone with some toe-tapping music. These guys have been around the block a couple of times and have played in some of the best-known Cajun bands in Louisiana. They have brought Cajun music and fun throughout the U.S. and world. One has even played at the White House. All play multiple instruments. So get ready for a fun time. We will have Brandon Degeyter on diatonic accordion (better known as the Abbeville Air Compressor), Jamie Bearb will heat up the fiddle, David Guidry will have the bass guitar and Jimmy Breaux will keep the beat moving on the drums. All will handle vocals. Three of the four have direct Guidry ancestry and, of course, Hébert ancestry runs through their veins too.

Art Guidry from New York, NY will discuss the long and circuitous path in documenting his family's genealogical history in St. Landry Parish, LA. Art descends from Onesime Alexis Guidry of the Guidry family that owned Île Carencro Plantation (built 1790s) on Bayou Carencro south of Carencro and Adele Derbigny, a free woman of color. It is a fascinating story with brick walls being broken and twists and turns at every corner. The Île Carencro plantation home still exists today and has never left ownership of the Guidry family. Onesime Alexis Guidry was Justice of the Peace for St. Landry Parish and later Clerk of the District Court in Opelousas, LA. Be prepared for a fascinating story.

At noon we'll have a great Cajun dinner of jambalaya, fixings, drinks and special desserts. Chef Barry Guidry originally from St. John the Baptist Parish and now calling the Baton Rouge area home will prepare the meal. Folks are welcome to walk through the kitchen to the back patio to talk with Barry about the jambalaya. Just be prepared - you may have to add some ingredients, stir a bit or do a bit of tasting. He may be cooking up some cracklins too and heating up a little boudin.

After dinner Greg Wood from Olney, MD will briefly discuss his long-awaited book on the French in Maryland and especially the Baltimore area - Becoming the Frenchified State of Maryland. This 2-volume, almost 1600-page book is the definitive history of the French in Maryland and has lots of information on the Acadians that remained in Maryland after 1770 and did not come to Louisiana. His earlier work A Guide to the Acadians in Maryland is a companion to this book and traces the Acadian history in Maryland from 1755 to 1770. Greg will be at the Reunion all day and will have both books available for anyone that would like a copy.

Both the Guidry and the Hebert families plan to present awards to outstanding family members. The Guédry et Petitpas family annually inducts six new members into its Circle of Distinction and will do so at the Reunion. The names remain a secret until the induction ceremony occurs.

We will end the day with an informal social hour where folks can relax, have a soft drink or beer, chips, maybe some cracklins and boudin and just enjoy chatting with those met at the Reunion. This always seems to be a highlight of our Reunions. We may even have a few door prizes to announce during this time.

And spread throughout the Reunion will be several half-hour periods for folks to meet each other, view some of the family exhibits, visit the sales tables, talk with the authors, visit the Chef, etc.

And the best part is IT IS ALL FREE!!!

Everyone is welcome to attend!!! Guidrys, Heberts and anyone who likes our families or just wants to see what's happening.

Start making your plans to attend. We expect folks from throughout the U. S. and hope that our Canadian cousins will be able to join us for the Reunion. Let's fill up the Ballroom!

GUÉDRY & HÉBERT REUNION
RAYNE CIVIC CENTER (RAYNE, LOUISIANA)
OCTOBER 8, 2022 (9 am - 4 pm)

The Guédry and Hébert families are having a joint Reunion as part of the Grand Réveil Acadien 2022 celebrations in south Louisiana. We will be celebrating at the Rayne Civic Center in Rayne, LA on Saturday, 8 October 2022 from 9 am until 4 pm. Take 87 off I-10 then south on Hiway 35. Take right at Oak Street, then right on Gossen Memorial Drive (Frog Festival Drive) to Ballroom.

It is FREE - including food, entertainment and meeting your Acadian cousins!!!

Everyone is welcome!!! - Guidry cousins, Hebert cousins, anyone that likes the Guidry and Hebert families.

Pre-registration not required, but a brief note to guidryRmartin@gmail.com with the number of folks that may attend will help in planning food and seating.

We will have lots of time for mingling and meeting friends and new cousins. There will be some displays to view as well as items for sale including books and souvenirs.

Here's a tentative schedule of activities planned:

GRAND RÉVEIL ACADIEN 2022

Here's a brief schedule for the Grand Réveil Acadien 2022

More specifics and other reunions will be published later.

Festivals Acadiens et Créoles - October 14-16, 2022
(Girard Park in Lafayette, LA) - Music, food, crafts, art, talks