08/11/2026
resharing this pic from Keep Lafayette Beautiful of the this gorgeous member of the Live Oak Society who had a story rooted in service, perseverance, and community. 🌳🇺🇸
The Francis Benoit American Legion Post 504 Live Oak, located at Veterans Park at Pontiac Point, recently registered with the Live Oak Society as tree #10,716, with an impressive 15-foot diameter!
Post 504 itself has a remarkable history—it was chartered in 1947 and is Louisiana's second-oldest African American American Legion post, named for World War II veterans Jonas Francis and Wilson Benoit. Today, the Post continues that tradition of service by supporting veterans, mentoring youth, and serving the Lafayette community.
We love that this living giant now carries that legacy, too. A heritage tree isn't just a big tree—it's a living piece of our community's history. 💚
Thank you to KLB for helping shine a light on these incredible trees!
🌳 Know a remarkable live oak? TreesAcadiana can help measure and register it with the Live Oak Society.
Guidelines for putting out yard waste in Lafayette! Tell all your neighbors! 🌳🍃
1. No trash or treated wood to be mixed in with yard waste please.
2. Do not tie or bundle any branches. Simply stack them neatly in front of your house, as far away from your garbage can as possible.
3. Smaller items such as grass and shrub clippings should be put into a yard bag, or you may place smaller yard debris into a garbage can, and leave the top off so the truck driver can identify it as yard waste. Cans used cannot be any larger than 35 gallons.
4. Please place regular garbage and your yard waste as far apart as possible on the curb.
5. Limbs can be no larger than 18 inches in diameter, 50 lbs and 6 feet in length. No root balls allowed.
6. Place your yard waste on the curb the night before your regular garbage collection day.
