Deputy Allen Bares Jr. Memorial Parkway sign unveiled

The stretch between Abbeville and Maurice officially has a new distinction - Deputy Allen Bares Jr. Memorial Parkway.
Officials unveiled the sign near Abbeville Thursday morning.
The renaming covers the portion of U.S. Hwy. 167 between the southern corporate limits of the Village of Maurice and the northern corporate limits of the City of Abbeville. The honor recognizes Bares, the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Deputy who gave his life in the line of duty in June of 2014.
Family, friends, local officials and members of the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office took part in the ceremony.
Tina Bares, Allen’s wife, spoke with a simple message.
“This is not only for the family and not only for coworkers,” Tina Bares said. “This is for the whole community.
“I am very honored by this.”
Lynn Bares, Allen’s mother, captured the mood of the moment.
“It’s a beautiful day,” she said with smile.
Those in attendance Thursday had the opportunity to reflect on the sacrifice made by Bares, who was shot and killed while responding to a possible crime on his day off. Thousands of drivers who traverse Highway 167 each day will now have that same opportunity because of efforts taken during this year’s legislative session.
Sen. Jonathan Perry, who represents Vermilion Parish, authored Senate Bill No. 6 during this past legislative session that facilitated the renaming of the portion of 167 in Bares’ memory.
“I contacted Sheriff (Mike) Couvillon last year to see what we could do,” Perry said. “This was around the same time they renamed the road by the correctional facility.”
The road that runs in front of the Vermilion Parish Correctional Facility is also named in Bares’ honor. That is a parish road, which needed only a measure by the Vermilion Parish Police Jury to make a change.
Renaming the stretch on 167 needed more steps.
“This is a state highway and we couldn’t change it without a legislative instrument,” Perry explained. “I had to introduce a bill this past session.
“That is why it took this long of a time period to make this happen.”
Perry thanked those who helped the bill become a reality. That included Rep. Bob Hensgens, Rep. Nancy Landry and Rep. Blake Miguez.
“The whole Vermilion delegation helped me get this through,” Perry said.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will place signs near Maurice and Abbeville.
“One thing I want to reassure people is that this changes no mailing addresses,” Perry said. “I have had a few people who live in the area contact me about that issue.
“This is strictly a highway dedication.”
The stretch previously had a designation of Vermilion Parkway. That name remains for the portion of 167 from the northern limits of Maurice to E. Broussard Road in Lafayette.
“I left the name of Vermilion Parkway for that part of 167,” Perry said. “That was Rep. Don Trahan who created that years ago.”
Perry, a former police officer, said the change to Deputy Allen Bares Jr. Memorial Parkway pays respect to what those in law enforcement risk every day.
“I’ve been there and have seen what officers go through,” Perry said. “When a tragedy like this happens, what can you do to bring awareness?”
Perry said he is honored to be a part of this process.
“It was a great thing to see his family out there,” Perry said. “This is one of the bills that I’ve done that I have been proudest of in the eight years I have been there.”