Louisiana VFW Post Receives National Community Service Award

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Veterans of Foreign Wars is proud to announce that Cole-Miers VFW Post 3619 in DeRidder, Louisiana, was selected to receive the 2021 VFW Fred C. Hall Memorial Outstanding Post Special Project Award, which recognizes VFW Posts for unique and outstanding community service projects.

Post 3619 was selected for its unbelievable resiliency and extraordinary dedication to supporting and caring for its community in the wake of the deadly 2020 Hurricane Laura. Despite Post 3619’s Post home sustaining major water, wind and structural damage, including a 7-foot-wide tree crashing through the roof, Post members focused their efforts on helping others. 

For several weeks members worked clearing major lines of communication, removing trees from houses, and clearing debris to allow access for emergency personnel. The Post also teamed up with several local organizations to prepare and feed more than 2,000 people in the first week, and collect and distribute more than 200,000 tons of supplies to families in need around the state. 

“The tireless strength and selfless dedication to disaster relief efforts VFW Post 3619 showed their fellow veterans and community is a perfect example of how VFW members are #StillServing long after our time in the military ends,” said Hal Roesch, national commander of the VFW. “When I challenged VFW members to have ‘20/20’ Vision for Veterans,’ efforts like that of Post 3619 are more than I could have imagined.”

VFW National Commander Hal Roesch and VFW Programs Director Lynn Rolf, III, were on hand this morning to present the 2021 VFW Fred C. Hall Memorial Outstanding Post Special Project Award to past VFW Post 3619 Commander Joshua Morgan during the 122nd VFW National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, July 31 – Aug. 3, 2021.