RAYNE, La. (KLFY) -- An American Legion Post is getting a makeover after being abandoned for over a decade.
Brian Mouton, Rayne's District 1 City Councilman, said when he took office two years ago, one of his goals was to take care of veterans. Mouton said he wanted to renovate the American Legion Henderson Post 569 because, over the years, the abandoned post became blighted.
"Blighted properties is a kind of a thing that the city has been doing for some time now to alleviate crime, safety for the elderly and the youth," he said.
He said the reorganization of Post 569 is to foster fellowship for veterans, create additional space for meetings, and provide access to more resources and support. The project stems from a group of veterans who want to reorganize the post.
"There was a group that came and they contacted the state, and the state informed them that the post was inactive, and they reorganized and started meeting."
Mouton said Post 569 is not the first American Legion Post in Rayne to undergo a reorganization.
"There was another post in town that did the exact same thing. They were having difficult times and they reorganized and they're doing a phenomenal job in re-establishing another post here in town."
Mouton said the reorganization will begin in 2025 and volunteers are welcome to help re-establish the post and raise money for the rebuild or remodel at this location. Mouton said this is a great thing for veterans in Rayne and he's excited to be a part of it.
