A new organization is rising in the Miss-Lou, which aims to honor and help veterans and their loved ones, not just locally, but across this great land. It is Home With Heroes Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization.

Home With Heroes had its debut on May 26 at First Baptist Church in a program called “A Celebration of Patriotism.” It was a very successful start to what promises to be a long-term effort to do good things for veterans and their families.

It is my privilege to serve as president, and to have Jimmy Allgood as vice president. Our Board of Directors consists of Board Members:  Teresa Busby, Vice President, Copiah-Lincoln Community College Natchez; Calvin Butler, Program Director, WMIS/WTYJ Radio; The Hon. Forrest Al Johnson; Pattie Reed Jones, Founder, Operation G.R.I.T.S; Donnie Verucchi, Past State Commander Veterans of Foreign Wars. Board members and officers are volunteering to serve without any compensation.

Our launch consisted of the presentation of “A Call to Duty: Stories of World War II,” featuring two terrific veterans: Harold Gardner, Navy, and Josephine Kapke, Army. Both were present to see the documentaries produced on their behalf. You may see the film at the Home With Heroes Facebook page.

Also, we presented the pilot of what we hope will be a television show in conjunction with the popular “Redneck Adventures” show that Allgood has co-produced for many years. That pilot soon will be available for viewing on the Home With Heroes Facebook page. The short film featured three local veterans: Benton Thornton, Ben Lewis and Nathan Latimer.

A third component to the “Celebration of Patriotism” was the personal testimony of Nicole Johnson Starr, of Maryland, a veteran and founder of The PTSD Retreat organization. Starr said that trauma exists in all facets of society, not just in veterans returning from war.

We thank the Rev. Doug Broome, pastor of First Baptist Church, and the church for its generosity, and members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9753 in Natchez for providing the Honor Guard to post the flags.

You will be hearing and seeing more of Home With Heroes Foundation Inc. as we roll out our activities and projects, one of which is to provide a Veterans Renewal Retreat for those suffering from stress while serving our country.

For more information or even to help this cause, you can write to us at homewithheroes@live.com. Thank you, and please remember to pray for our soldiers wherever they are serving.

 

G. Mark LaFrancis is president of Home With Heroes Foundation Inc.