Military Museum in Abbeville collecting info for veterans database

The Louisiana Military Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Abbeville, has one goal.
“The mission of the Louisiana Military Hall of Fame Museum is to honor all veterans who were born in Louisiana, and currently are or were citizens of Louisiana,” Museum Director Crystal Mouton said. “We have developed the L.A. Veterans History Database as a means to accomplish this.”
The data base is currently up and running at the museum’s main location, on the grounds of the Chris Crusta Memorial Airport in Abbeville. That data base includes information on all veterans from the state.
A second database is located at the Abbeville Cultural & Historical Alliance in downtown Abbeville, across form Magdalen Square. That database includes only veterans from Vermilion Parish.
The City of Abbeville and the Vermilion Parish Police Jury both put up funds this year to help make the database possible.
Pete LeBlanc of Abbeville, along with Gen. Bob LeBlanc, and with the help of local historian Allen LeBlanc, created the database.
“We are in the process of collecting additional veteran information,” Pete LeBlanc said. “We are asking every Louisiana veteran or their descendents to furnish us their veteran information.”
This includes pictures, articles, résumés, military records, medals, awards or citations, and video or audio clips.
“Any other veteran memorabilia,” Mouton said, “such as uniforms, flags, equipment, military photographs or models, are also welcome.”
Information can be submitted at the museum. The hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The number for the museum is 898-9645.
LeBlanc said he will take the information from veterans and their families and then upload that information into the database.
“Once in the database,” LeBlanc explained, “the veteran’s descendents and others can view the information at the museum.”
LeBlanc added that one goal is to eventually have the database also available online through the museum’s website.
The ultimate goal is to simply preserve an important part of history for both the state and the parish.
“Our goal is to maintain these records for present and future generations so we can always remember our Louisiana veterans,” Mouton said.