A membership drive is underway across Allen Parish for new members and support as local veteran organizations continue to offer valuable services to the community. With an aging population, many veteran organizations are looking for younger members to join and help others with new ideas and a willingness to provide assistance to those veterans in need.
Recently, the American Legion (AL) posts from across the parish gathered in Oakdale to seek donations to help keep the utilities operating in Oberlin and Oakdale. A special thanks goes out to all those who contributed donations to keep these posts operating.
“We got a lot of response,” Commander Eric Kuyper, Alvin L. Nevils American Legion Post 244 in Kinder, said.
Kuyper joined Alex Smith, Commander of the Oberlin’s Durio Singletary American Legion Post 144, and Bill Hargrove, Commander of the Oakdale Vernon Ware Memorial American Legion Post 56, at the fundraiser. Then the leaders took a step to encourage the community to visit the Oakdale site and consider joining the membership there. At the membership drive, other veteran organizations traveled to the Oakdale Post to show their support and encourage membership.
Kuyper said it was probably the first time in history, or at least the history they all could recall, where veteran leaders from across the parish were present in one room at one time. Kuyper, Smith and Hargrove were joined by Charles Smith from the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 12203 and Terry Courville from the VVA (Vietnam Veterans of America). The Kinder and Oberlin posts hosted the membership meeting and fed the attendees with a supper in early January. “It was symbolic and eventful,” Kuyper added.
Hargrove, who assumed the job of commander approximately five months ago, is hoping that meetings like the one in January will encourage the younger veterans to visit veteran posts and learn what membership will mean to them as a veteran.
It used to be “what can I do for my country,” he said. Now it’s what can you do for me.” He said there are many things the American Legion Post can assist veterans with, from medical information or disabilities to purchasing a home. They have a wealth of information to assist veterans.
“We know who to turn to. We can even educate one on their benefits,” he said. Hargrove explained many veterans are not aware of the benefits available to them as a result of their service.
“Any veteran is welcome,” Hargrove said in regards to membership in the American Legion. He said you have to have been honorably discharged or still enlisted – even if its the National Guard; all will be welcomed at the post. “American Legions are the number one helper of American veterans.”
If anyone is interested, especially in Oakdale, all they have to do is attend a meeting or contact a member. Hargrove said his number is 1-504-450-230.
Membership is $35 per year. Hargrove was born and raised in Oakdale but returned home after Hurricane Katrina when he was living in New Orleans. He then married a classmate Nita Doucet Hargrove, whom he said is well known in Oakdale. He encourage all interested persons to contact him.
Veterans in the parish meet:
•Oakdale and Oberlin American Legion posts meet the second Tuesday of each month.
•Kinder American Legion meets third Monday of month.
•VFW in Kinder meets the first Tuesday of the month.
VVA in Kinder meets the first Thursday of the month.
