Abbeville donates $5,000 to keep Military Museum operating

The Louisiana Military Hall of Fame and Museum will remain in standard operation for the time being, thanks to some assistance from the city it calls home.
The Abbeville City Council voted unanimously Tuesday during its regular meeting to put up $5,000 that will help the museum operate into the summer.
Councilman-at-Large Francis Plaisance made the motion. Councilman Francis Touchet Jr, District C, offered a second.
“They desperately need the money now,” Plaisance said.
The museum, which operates under the office of Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler, is located at the Chris Crusta Memorial Airport in Abbeville.
“The museum is a great tourist attraction and honors veterans statewide,” Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza said.
The museum is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, the museum faced the possibility of being cut down to one day per week.
“When the state budget came out,” explained Meg Casper, the press secretary for Schedler’s office, “the museum budget was cut almost in half for next year. We implemented a layoff of all of our museum staff. Smaller museums would go from three days a week to one. What we would have to do is layoff all of the staff (statewide) and bring back those who are necessary to run the museum for that one day a week.”
That plan would have gone into effect for the military museum this Monday, April 13. Crystal Mouton is the staffer at the museum.
With the council’s vote Tuesday, the museum will remain on its three-day schedule, with Mouton remaining on staff. That will remain the case through June 30.
“The hope is that the (state) legislature will put some money back in to the budget,” Casper said. “This money (from Abbeville) will be a stopgap.
“If no money is found by the legislature, then we will have to re-implement layoffs and the cutting of operation hours.”
Abbeville’s funding is part of similar moves involving museums around the state.
“We had reached out to local communities and foundations to see if they were willing to pitch in,” Casper said. “We have received a good response. The locals have definitely pitched in when they can and Secretary Schedler is very appreciative.”
Piazza said it is an honor and privilege to have the museum, which is a state-owned entity, located in Abbeville.
“The museum will not survive without local support and local participation,” Piazza said.
Those interested will be able to participate during a fundraising event on May 30 that will correspond with the scheduled Military Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
“Hopefully some funds will be raised at that time,” Plaisance said. “In the meantime, they need funds now.”
Piazza said the city will help wherever possible.
“There are volunteers who are in charge of fundraising for the museum,” Piazza said. “They have a good nucleus of volunteers. I feel certain that will be a little bit of help from the city, they will be able to continue their operation.
“We will try to do what we can to keep the museum going.”