Veterans correct museum purchase mishap

“The hardest thing is communication,” Hebert said. “Everybody needs to know what’s going on.”

By Naomi King

HOUMA, La. — A group of veterans spent $200,000 without going through the proper government board when they bought the Regional Military Museum on Barrow Street earlier this month.

But corrective measures were approved Tuesday that confirm the money was spent appropriately in the name of the Terrebonne Veterans Memorial District, a local government board set up to receive public money.

The nine-member Memorial District Board unanimously approved the use of $200,000 to pay off a loan to purchase the building and land. The property is now owned by the Regional Military Museum’s non-profit foundation.

At issue was the use of $237,000 from the Legislature, approved in 2008 for the Memorial District.

The original grant was for $250,000, but the state government shaved off 5 percent amid budget constraints.

Veterans on the Memorial District Board used $200,000 of the grant as soon as it was received May 5 to pay off a six-month bank loan for purchasing the building and land. The loan payment was due May 10, so parish government, which is the financial agent for the veterans board, transferred the money.

Veterans said they never intended to go around the board’s authority, but needed to repay the loan in time.

“We all wanted the same thing,” said Will Theriot, a board member and volunteer at the museum.

Parish Attorney Courtney Alcock said the board can legally ratify the money transfer to the museum’s foundation after the fact.

During the board’s meeting, Alcock said the money was used in accordance with the Legislature’s intent.

The Veterans Memorial District was set up less than a year ago and is charged with overseeing Terrebonne’s military museum, 1154 Barrow St., and the Memorial Park on La. 311 near St. Charles Street. The bulk of the district’s board is comprised of war veterans and volunteers associated with the museum and park.

The key to any organization’s success is communication, said board member John Hebert.

“The hardest thing is communication,” Hebert said. “Everybody needs to know what’s going on.”