The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1947-02-07
Y eteran
L enterS
County And City
Officials Agree
To General Plon

The move to erect one or more
veterans centers in Jackson
County, advanced at a mass
meeting of former service men
last week, progressed rapidly this
week when members of the
county board OF supervisors and
Pascagoula officials agreed to the
plan in principle.
After hearing a committee re-
presenting county veterans, mem
bers of the board Of supervisors
agreed Tuesday to the issuance
ef one hundred thousand dol
hrs in bonds for that purpose,
If the eounty's citizens show
their approval OF such an issue
at the polls.
The Pascagoula city council al
so accepted the resolution pass
ed by the veterans and endors-
ed the plans for e veterans cen
ter in Pascagoula.
The matter viii be taken up
with officials of Moss Point and
Ocean Springs in the near future,
veterans organizations leaders
said.
See Supervisors
A committee representing the
veterans. consisting of Comman-
der George H. Harrison of Amer
lean Legion Post No. 160, Com
mander Karl Wiesenburg of the
Elmer Joseph Grant Post No.
1878, Veterans of Foreign Wars,
end Galnett Wilson, service Of
flcer OF both groups, met with
the board of supervisors on Tues
day to present the resolution
passed at the mass meeting.
The same group, together with
Harold w. Gautier, Pascagoula
attorney, and Arthur V. Smith.
Pascagoula postmaster, preseF
ed the matter to Mayor John
Watts and Councilmen V. P.
DeJean and Lee Beckham Tues
dav night.
Mr.. Wiesenburg was the spok-
esman before The board of super
visors and M. Gautier, a char
ter member of the Veterans of
Foreign War post here, before
the city officials.
Plan Explained
The veterans representatives
explained to the two governing
bodies that former service men
here fee a need for a centrally
located building to house the va
rious agencies dealing with We
terans and as well as the con-
Occasionally chartered veterans
organizations active IN the coun-
ty.
Under the plan, the largest
building would be constructed in
Pascagoula with additional cen
tiers in Moss Point and Ocean
Springs, IL the veterans there de
sire them.
II is tentatively planned for
the county to provide fifty per
cent of the funds in each case,
with the municipalities provid-
ing the remainder in the respec-
tive cities.
1t was stressed by the veter-
ans representatives that they
only desired the building, if citi-
zens in the county were willing
for them to have them, and said
that q vote on a bond issue for
that purpose was in order.
Need Cited
Before the board of superViS-
nrs, Mr. Wiesenburg declared
that, in spite of large appropria-
tons and the so-esHed c.. /. Bill
of Right. the tmajGrity Of veter-
ans are not participating in these
benefits.
The center. however. would
permit veterans te take advan-
tage of al services in a zone
stop routine, he said. He advo-
Gated that the Veterans Contact
Officer and the Jackson Coun-
ty Red Cross. be housed in the
proposed center in Pascagoula.
Before the city officials, Mr..
Gautier pointed out the advan-
tages in erecting q super center
in Pascagoula, the county seat.
for all veterans IN The county,
or at least for all those on the
east side Of the Pascagoula River.
Mayor John r Watts stated
that the city officials favored
the city bearing its proportionate
share Of expenditures incurred
in providing for the welfare of
the veterans and the council went
on record as accepting the resoIu-
ton 10 be spread on the minutes
of their meeting and declared
their unanimous support Of the
general plan.