Disabled American Veterans, Department of Louisiana

         Chapter 2 of Lafayette conducted a very successful regional service event in Lafayette on Monday, October 7, 2008, according to Commander of Chapter 2, Mike Day.  A total of 22 veterans were given assistance and many initiated claims with our National Service Officer Archie Smith.  The consultations were held next to the lounge of the East Bayou Baptist Church and the veterans got fee coffee and donuts while they waited their turn to be advised and processed.  PDC Joe Menard screened the applicants and Service Officer Miguel Macias assisted in the van for training.  Veterans came from 30 miles away due to exposure in four area newspapers.  Photos of the van and participants are shown in this article.

Chapter 2 has also worked very hard in securing and maintaining van transportation for the area.  Earlier this year, Commander Mike Day was interviewed by a local newspaper about volunteers needed to transport local veterans to hospitals. It was stated that for local veterans cost free health care is more than 100 miles away at the VA Hospital in Alexandria and many of them are unable to get there on their own.  Age, health conditions, and high fuel costs are a few factors that keep the disabled vets from making the drive, which is why DAV transportation coordinators work daily to ensure free rides for vets in  Iberia, Lafayette, and Vermillion Parishes.  Mike Day says the vans carry about 40 vets weekly but the program is in need of more volunteers.  One volunteer driver said he had been blessed all his life and hated to think that a vet could not get to his doctor's appointment, that it was a part of giving back.  A private transportation company quoted a price totaling $225,000 annually for the Lafayette-Alexandria trip. Commander Day emphasized that figure demonstrates the importance of volunteer drivers.