NATCHEZ — A group of local organizations that advocate for veterans’ services may soon form the first Natchez Adams Veterans Council to boost support for Armed Service men and women and their loved ones.

Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell said he announced the formation of the council last week during a Veterans Day program at Copiah Lincoln Community College.

The council’s membership would be comprised of Grennell, Home With Heroes president and founder Mark LaFrancis, a member of the Natchez Board of Aldermen and Adams County Board of Supervisors, a Veterans of Foreign Wars Natchez post representative, an American Legion representative, an Adams County Veterans Services officer, a representative from the Natchez National Cemetery, a representative of the U.S. Army Recruiting Office in Natchez and the loved one of a deceased veteran, Grennell said.

“The purpose of this council is to advise local officials of methods to better serve our local veterans and their loved ones,” he said. “They would have meetings on a weekly basis to share ideas, fix support programs and establish long and short term goals. Most importantly, this group would bring a synergy of all the veteran and military organizations that we have here in the city.”

Another benefit of bringing all of those agencies together, Grennell said, is having them to sign off on any request local officials make for federal funding to support veterans.

Grennell said the idea to organize a consolidated support group specifically for veterans was brought up by LaFrancis during an Economic Development council meeting.

“It’s wonderful that (Grennell) took the idea and ran with it,” LaFrancis said. “He has a lot on his plate, but I believe that he feels all the veterans are important, especially in our community. He saw this as an opportunity to help those of them in our community who are underserved and even some who are un-served.”

Grennell said he hopes the organization will have its first official meeting by the second week of December and continue meeting weekly until it becomes well established.