Members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7287 at Coushatta have reason to celebrate.  This year they earned two prestigious awards.  The Post earned All State in the Louisiana VFW and they earned All American in the National VFW.

Awards are based upon service to the military, retired veterans, the local community, and membership.   The awards are scheduled to be presented when the state VFW meets in Alexandria in August.

Post Commander Barry McCoy credits both the post members and the Auxiliary for the accomplishment.  The two organizations work together in most local service projects.  Just a week ago the Post and Auxiliary furnished drinking water to the members of the Louisiana National Guard who were manning the mobile COVID-19 testing site in Coushatta.

Some of the other projects the VFW does throughout the year recognize the outstanding achievements of school children.  Each month a Student of the Month is selected from each school in the parish. The VFW presents each student with a certificate and gift card from Dairy Queen.

In addition, Students of the Year and Teachers of the Year are recognized.  Post 7287 and Auxiliary 7287 are the only VFW units in the state recognizing students in this manner.  And the Post was one of three posts in Louisiana that recognized a Teacher of the Year in High School, Junior High and Elementary schools.

Each Fall, students in the schools in the parish are presented the Americanism Competition in grades K-5, the Patriot’s Pen patriotic essay competition in middle school, and the Voice of Democracy audio essay contest in High School.  One local Patriot’s Pen entry from Isak Schmidley was selected second in the state.

VFW members and auxiliary will assemble Thursday evening for their regular meeting.  They will celebrate the All American and All State selections with a cake and refreshments during the meetings. The VFW and Auxiliary meets at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church on Ashland Road at 7:00 pm on the third Thursday of each month.