Dear Miss-Lou:

This is our Home With Heroes Foundation annual report to the community, typically presented at the end of each year.

The year – 2018 – has been a particularly momentous year.

In May, we opened the free clothing bank for veterans and loved ones, offering high-quality wear at absolutely no charge. The Miss-Lou has blessed us with a wide variety of wonderful items, some brand new. Veterans and loved ones have visited the clothing bank (in the second floor of the Natchez VFW Post 9573 building) and marveled at what we have.

The room is dedicated to Sgt. Henry Levon Brown, the first Natchez soldier killed in Iraq. He was a soft-spoken young man remembered by many here.

In August, we opened the Veterans Memorabilia Room (we call a mini-museum) of items loaned and donated to the room. Our prized possession is the huge fully outfitted Special Forces collection of GI Joes, a donation from Special Forces veteran Robert Foley of Natchez.

We will keep adding to the room and adjacent hall until we run out of space. The room is dedicated to the memory of two fine veterans and long-time members of the VFW post: John “Blackie” Williams of World War II and Thomas “Tommy” Williams of Vietnam War. Please stop by and visit.

Throughout the winter, spring, summer and fall, we supported veterans with utility payments, gift cards, food vouchers and more. Again, at no charge.

We also contributed money to the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Natchez Campus Veterans Scholarship Fund, and to Operation G.R.I.T.S. We welcomed two new board members: Monica Morrison (Navy veteran) and Barbara Winkworth (wonderful patriot), and new Vice President Tuwanna Williams (Army veteran) and Treasurer Robert Foley (Army veteran).

Our biggest project was to coordinate the annual Wreaths Across America program Dec. 15 at the Natchez National Cemetery, where more than 200 people came including many, many veterans and families of veterans. We exceeded 950 wreaths this year and plan to break 1,400 in 2019.

Of course none of those achievements would have been possible without our volunteers and supporters. To you, a heartfelt thanks.

OK, for 2019, we plan not to stop. We still remain true to our root mission to help and honor veterans and their loved ones, all at no charge, while working to create resources for them.

We will maintain our clothing bank and expand our memorabilia room. We will be “at the ready” for emergency aid. And, we will re-start our Helping Hands for Veterans Project offering free yard and home improvements. If you know of a veteran who needs help, please call me. In addition, we plan to start a Veterans Computer Resource Center in the VFW building and offer free internet access for veterans, especially to the all-important va.gov web site.

As they say, “But wait, there’s more.” That “more” will be quarterly American Flag Retirement Ceremonies, Patriotism Education Programs for students, and more.

All of us need to help and honor those who volunteered to serve our country even if that volunteerism meant death.

So, if you wish to join us or donate, please call me at 601-442-0980 or see our website: www.homewithheroes.org or Facebook: Home With Heroes, or email: homewithheroes@live.com.

As we say, we live in the land of the free because of the brave.

G. Mark LaFrancis (USAF Ret.) is president of the Home With Heroes Foundation.