In June, it was reported that the Johnston County Veterans Association received a grant to finish a long awaited project. The original veterans center burned down in 2008, leaving the organization and volunteers scrambling to rebuild. They were able to break ground in August 2017, but unfortunately, that was as far as they were able to get.
The beginning goal for the center was $1 million, but due to price increases over the year, that amount doubled. That left them severely lacking with the $600,000 that was originally raised.
However, fate would smile on the center. The bottom floor will be able to double as a storm shelter with the ability to hold 400 people. With this nugget of information being known, the Federal Emergency Management Agency stepped in and awarded the veterans project a cool million to assist with the funding.
This center is not only good news for Johnston County, it is also great news for Marshall County. According to the United States Census Bureau, Marshall County has almost twice the amount of veterans than Johnston County. Marshall County is reported as housing over 1,300 veterans, while Johnston County only has over 700.
The new center is big news for the veterans who live in Marshall County. What was almost an hour drive to the Ardmore Veterans Center will now become a small fifteen minute drive to Tishomingo once the center is built.
The Veteran’s Service Representative for South Central Area 8 Darrell Riley said the new building will change the routine for some people, just not for his office. “The new building won’t affect filing disability claims,” Riley said. “Other than improving their quality of life, I don’t see much change.”
According to the Washita Veterans of Foreign Wars Vice Commander Terry Hutchins, Marshall County and Johnston County joined forces to create the Washita VFW since there are none in either county. He said the new center will be beneficial for a few organizations, not just the VFW. “The building will house the VFW the American Legion and the Chickasaw Honor Guard.”
He said the center will provide the vets a place to go where they can feel comfortable enough to interact with other vets. It will give them a common ground, and give them the outlet to make friends and acquaintances. “It will be a place for new or vets needing somebody to talk to to come in. Somebody that has been through what they have,” said Hutchins.
Hutchins said they plan on using the center for various events like a community center. He is expecting to have bingo, dances, darts, pool tables, shuffleboard and other activities, and also rent out the center for events.
The center will be approximately 5,000 square feet. It will have the storm shelter, the activity area and the offices will be on the second floor. The Washita Post is eagerly awaiting the construction because they currently do not have a home. “We currently meet at the American Legion in Tishomingo.” Even though the center will be focused on Marshall and Johnston County, Hutchins said any veteran will be welcome.
The FEMA grant put a deadline on the completion of the center as August 2021. Wanda Gray of INCA RSVP in Tishomingo, a volunteer based organization for seniors, said they hope to be complete before that date.
The Johnston County Veterans Center is still responsible for raising the remainder amount, approximately $300,000. According to Gray, the needed amount can be done through cash, donated hours or donated material. For anybody interested in donating can contact Wanda Gray at
(580)371-2352, or visit www.incacaa.org/rsvp.