ST. LANDRY PARISH — Family, friends, and veterans gathered on Sunday to celebrate a major milestone for Prigeon Fontenot, a World War II veteran who turned 100 years old.

Fontenot, a Private First Class in the United States Army, was born on November 23, 1925, in Rayne. He joined the military as a teenager and later served overseas in France and Germany, where he and his fellow soldiers often found themselves “dodging bullets.”

Surrounded by several generations of his family, Fontenot reflected on reaching a century of life.

“I don’t feel a day old,” he said.“I feel the same way I did 10… 50 years ago.” Throughout his life, Fontenot has been known for his love of horseback riding, a passion that he had to let go after multiple medical procedures. His family says he still participates in

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