Dardenne Visits To Rechristen The Newly Dubbed Chennault Museum
by Stephen Largen - News Star (excerpt)

Secretary of State Jay Dardenne was in Monroe on Thursday night to add Gen. Claire Lee Chennault's name to the title of the Aviation and Military Museum of Louisiana. The new title is the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum.

"General Chennault is a hero in both America and China," Dardenne said. "It is appropriate that this wonderful museum, which salutes so many north Louisiana military figures, now bears the name of one of Louisiana's finest."

Chennault, who grew up in northern Louisiana and once lived in Monroe, is revered for leading the Flying Tigers in China during World War II. He received at least 17 medals during the war. Chennault's granddaughter, Nell Calloway, became the museum's director on May 12.

"We're so excited about what this means to our museum," Calloway said.

"At our museum every day is Memorial Day, but not only that, we're excited about remembering the past and we have a lot of hope for the future," she said.