Myra Miller
VFW Post 8971 in Eunice held its annual Service Awards banquet Monday evening to honor people who give every day to the community.
District 7 Commander Gene Olivier welcomed guests and honorees and added, “It’s this post’s 66th birthday this month, and therefore, we always enjoy giving awards during this month to those of you who give back .”
Emcees for the evening were Alvin Wilson, VFW senior vice president; Donald Estilette, Post chaplain; and Roger Veillon, quartermaster. Terry Matte, commander, was not present due to medical reasons.
Those people receiving recognition and honor included those in education, medical, law enforcement, firefighter, Scout of the Year, Veteran of the Year, Golden Commander Awards, news media, Post Commander of the Year, Life member awards, Louisiana Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor of the Year, Ladies Auxiliary life time membership award, and other honored volunteers.
In the educational field those honored were Aimie Fontenot, Pre-k teacher of the year at East Elementary, Susan Synborski, Eunice High English teacher; Lorie LeDoux, principal at Highland Elementary, Shelsy Williams, Cultural Arts teacher at Highland; Keila Keith, administrative assistant at Highland, Vernon Marks.
An award for Law Enforcement Officer of the Year was presented to Vernon Marks, a supervisor for the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office.
A Firefighter of the Year award went Drew Shaw of the Acadia Parish District 4.
The EMT of the Year was presented to Annie Francois.
Grant Clancy was named Louisiana State Scout of the Year. Clancy won at the Post competition at district and took third place at state.
Veteran of the Year award went to Roger Veillon, quartermaster at the VFW Post 8971.
The Golden Commander awards is an award that is presented to those volunteers who help and assist the post during the year. The recipients included John Saucier, Robert Gaspard and Shane Bertrand. Olivier added, “These guys go above and beyond to help us, by cooking and serving for Veterans Day events, and banquets. We do appreciate them.”
The News Media Golden Award is an award given to people who work at Post events, and functions, and put time and effort to get the news and photographs out to the public. These awards went to Rick Nesbitt of KEUN, Myra Miller and Harlan Kirgan at The Eunice News and Jerry DeVillier of Eunice.
Karl Monceaux received the Post Commander Golden award.
State Rep. Phillip DeVillier received a Post Golden award.
Dale Sittig received a Post Golden award for his spearheading efforts to place American flags at Eunice cemeteries.
Lifetime membership awards to the post were awarded to Warren Sonnier and John R. Young.
Miguel Pousson received the Louisiana Hunter Education Instructor of the Year award.
The Ladies Auxiliary honored Lort Veillon with a Lifetime membership award.