By Myra Miller
Lifestyles
Tall scaffolds are seen and placed around the M-60 battle tank in front of the VFW Post hall located on Hwy. 190 east. It appears that work will be done in the near future. The tank will get a ‘face lift.’
According to Roger Veillon, post commander, “The tank will be water blasted and painted by a Cleanblast company. The project date to begin and finish, I’m not sure.”
State Rep. Phillip DeVillier saw the need to ‘refresh’ the tank and spear-headed the project, and as one may say, ‘to get the ball rolling.’
The tank was delivered and set in place by the Louisiana National Guard on Dec. 6, 2006. According to records and history provided by the VFW Post, “The initial process to acquire the tank began back in 2005. At that time a helicopter was the request by the post, but unavailable. During this time, helicopters had all returned to active duty. Then the process thus began for the loan of a tank.
In January of 2006, a tank was housed at the Army Depot in Aneston, Alabama. A letter was sent to the VFW stating that a $317 release fee was required and that the Eunice post had 4 to 5 months to pick up the tank.
Instrumental in getting the tank were Congressman Charles Boustany, State Rep. Mickey Guillory, Adj. Gen. National Guard Hunt Downer. The VFW Post 8971 committee members during 2006 when the tank was delivered included Loicy Johnson, Stephen Miller, Louis Pavur, Al Courville, Kenneth Courville, Gary Fontenot and Gene Young.
