Yesterday at the GLLKA Lake Michigan conference it was announced that the oldest known living lighthouse keeper was celebrating his 103rd birthday, today I believe. One of the Chief's at CG Station Grand Haven had shared an e-mail he received. A card (complete with lighthouse) was passed around at dinner for the 160 attendees to sign Perhaps others might like to share a card or electronic wish with the keeper.

Louis Barbier
170 S Ellis St
Ponchatonala, LA 70454

If you leave an electronic wish I will print out and send with a belated card later this week.

Dave

Happy Birthday Louis and thank you for preserving America's sentinels for all of us to enjoy. I hope you have many more

Rich Rohweder
Eureka, CA

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Happy Birthday Louis!!!

Thank you so much for your years of service and for keeping the flame lit!!

Todd Shorkey
Bay City, Michigan

Happy Birthday, Mr. Barbier!

I know that those who went to sea truely appreciated your lighthouse service, but you already know that. I'm writing to let you know that we inlanders thank you as well. The entire nation has benefited from your service through growth in commerce made possible by safe shipping.

Thank you, and happy birthday! May you have many healthy, happy years ahead.

Art Seaman
Jackson, TN

Keeper Barbier,

With respect & admiration to the service you provided, I wish you a Happy Birthday!

Your many duties directly contributed to the growth of our country and are a part of our wonderful lighthouse history. For this I thank you.

Best Wishes,

Polly A. Malik
Tracy, California


[This message has been edited by Polly (edited 05-18-99).]

A very very Happy Birthday to you Mr. Barbier. I wish you many more from Lafayette La.

Bob
Cajun Country USA

Dave,

Could you check and verify the City in Louisiana?? We have a Ponchatoula, La. maybe a misspelling.

Thanks
Bob

Happy Birthday Mr. Barbier. You may recall that we met during the taping of the Public Television broadcast on Louisiana lighthouses last year. Thank you for all your years of faithful lighthouse service to this country.

Lamar Bevil
Greenwell Springs, Louisiana

Happy Birthday, Mr. Barbier!

Thank you for your years of service as a lighthouse keeper.

Kathy

Happy Birthday Mr. Barbier!!

I know you have the envy of everyone on this forum...of having the dream of being a real lighthouse keeper, if just for a day or two. I'm sure things were very tough at times, but the memories must be overwhelming and truely satisfying.

Just keep sitting back and telling those wonderful maritime stories for many years to come, I'm sure many of the listeners have a gleam in their eyes, listening to those exciting tales and wondering what it would have been like.

Rod Watson
Akron, Ohio

A very Happy Birthday Mr. Barbier! Although I have only been interested in lighthouses for a short time I have learned quite a bit of what it took to be a keeper. Your job was certainly very difficult but must have also been very rewarding. With sincere wishes to the Senior Keeper!

Susan LeFever, Phoenix, New York

Happy Birthday Mr. Barbier! I have been interested in lighthouses all my life. We always vacationed in Grand Haven, Michigan and my father instilled in us a love of maritime history both for the Coast Guard and the people who kept them afloat.

As a avid lighthouse enthusiast I wish you many more Happy Birthdays!!

Judy Rath, St. Louis, Missouri

For those who might be interested, Mr. Barbier served over 30 years as keeper of the Pass Manchac lighthouse in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana. He is a World War I veteran and has lived in Pontchatoula, LA for the past 23 years. He's a warm, lucid, genuinely nice gentleman.

Lamar Bevil
Secretary, Manchac Lighthouse Committee

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Keepin' the flame



[This message has been edited by LamarB (edited 05-20-99).]

A happy birthday to you Mr. Barbier from the lightkeeper of the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse in New York.


"the lightkeeper"

Thanks to all who posted birthday wishes for Keeper Barbier. I have sent them along with a card.

Bob, I checked zip code & fixed city name. Coast Guard may have mis-read someone's handwriting. Thanks for catching it.

Dave