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First through fourth graders from Christian Heritage Academy model their eclipse viewing in the nature center of the Louisiana State Arboretum. From left to right are: First row- Hudson Fontenot, Joshua Deville, and Adrian Do; Second row- Taylor O’Connor, Kali Stagg, and Brylee Tate; Third row- Jake Ardoin Zachary Dugger, Levi Steckler, and Jackson Reed; Fourth row- Matthew Barron, Cane Chapman, and Colin Pitre. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

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Robert Mitchell of Ville Platte gazes upward as he uses the eclipse viewing glasses to see the Great American Eclipse Monday at the Louisiana State Arboretum. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

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Interpretive Ranger of the Louisiana State Arboretum Kim Hollier uses a pair of binoculars to project the solar eclipse on a sheet of paper. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

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People of different parts of the globe traveled to the Louisiana State Arboretum for the Great American Eclipse of 2017. Pictured here from left to right are Rikke Thornsen and Morten Reinbothe of Denmark and JoAnne and Marvin O’Neal of Baton Rouge. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

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Students from St. Edmund’s in Eunice are pictured here as they enjoyed their time at the Louisiana State Arboretum to see the eclipse. From left to right are: Front row- Emile Soileau, Hayden Bertrand, Jace Miller, and Layla Fontenot; Back row- Philippe Soileau, Henry Summerlin, Nathan Andrepont, Kaleb George, Reece Fontenot, and Dane Fontenot. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

A total eclipse of the sun

A look at the Great American Eclipse at the La. State Arboretum

By: ALI MORAS
Editorial Intern

At the Louisiana State Arboretum many people showed up to see The Great American Eclipse with friends and family members.
Some people explained how special this is for them and their friends and family. “I have never seen an eclipse before,” said Carroll Fontenot. “They say the last one was in 1971 or 1974 from what I heard on the news. That was before I was born because I was born in 1984, so this is the first time I ever get to see one. It’s pretty cool.”
Cenevieve Fontenot said, “It’s extremely special because I’m sharing it with the grandchildren in this beautiful place which the Arboretum is a blessing for us to have in this parish.”
Two of her grandchildren Dane and Reece Fontenot, were with her. Dane said, “I find this amazing because I always had a love for science and nature. It’s just amazing.” Reece said, “I think its cool because it only happens every several years.”
People from other parts of the state and parts of the globe came to watch the solar eclipse at Chicot State Park’s Louisiana State Arboretum. JoAnne and Marvin O’Neal from Baton Rouge area took the drive just to come to the Louisiana State Arboretum. “It’s special to get to see it like this,” JoAnne said. “It’s great, and we wanted to loom at the park too.”
“I love it,” her husband Marvin said. “I’m glad I made the trip up here to get to see it, and I love the park.”
A Denmark couple, Rikke Thornson and Morten Reinbothe, were also on hand to experience the event. “We just happened to stop by for the eclipse actually,” Reinbothe said. “We came a long way,” Thornsen said.
It was the couple’s first trip to Ville Platte and to the Arboretum. “We like it,” Reinbothe said. “It’s very nice. The people are very friendly, and it’s beautiful.”

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