AMVETS Post 316 seeks ‘home place’

 

By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com

Lacy Shepherd is once again at the helm of AMVETS Post 316 and hopes to continue and strengthen the mission of his organization, which he believes is “almost a household word.”

“People know what we’re about,” Shepherd told The Pee Dee Post.

A PeeDeePost.com photo Lacy Shepherd, newly installed commander of AMVEST Post 316 in East Rockingham

A PeeDeePost.com photo
Lacy Shepherd, newly installed commander of AMVEST Post 316 in East Rockingham

Shepherd was voted in as post commander in April. He’s joined by Russell Scarborough as first vice commander, Barry Sellars as second vice commander, Sally Wilkes as adjutant, Mike White as finance officer, John Daniel as judge advocate, Richard Rankin as provost marshal, Charlie Tyler as chaplain, Dennis Holloway as information officer, David Muse as service officer and Sam Standridge as fundraising officer.

This is not Shepherd’s first time leading the local group. He’s also been district and state commander of the organization, which aims to help veterans in need. What makes AMVETS stand alone among other established veteran organizations is its zero-tolerance policy on smoking and drinking.

Shepherd said he’s proud to be a part of an organization around which his family is welcome in an appropriate environment at any time. He’s hoping sooner rather than later, however, that AMVETS Post 316 members will be able to meet and welcome guests in their own home. For some time, the group has been conducting its monthly meetings at the East Rockingham Fire Department.

The volunteers there work well enough with the group, but the building’s primary purpose — headquarters to a volunteer firefighting force — sometimes gets in the way of what AMVETS Post 316 would like to do.

Shepherd said the group is hopeful someone who supports veterans has some land to donate “so we can have a home.”

“We would like to have a home place,” Shepherd said.

He said he’s always had a dream where Post 316 has a home large enough to rent out space for parties, corporate gatherings, weddings and more. Other than Cole Auditorium at Richmond Community College, Shepherd said, there is no such place in Richmond County.

The post also is looking for a volunteer with grant-writing experience willing to help the organization.

AMVETS Post 316 members are visible within the community and looks to do even more, Shepherd said. The post operates a concessions stand at Plaza Jam each first Thursday of the month at Cole Plaza in Rockingham from May through October. In addition, Post 316 sets up at the annual Seaboard Festival in Hamlet.

Post 316 meets the last Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the East Rockingham Fire Department on Airport Road.

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