By BEN LUNDIN

Staff Reporter

RESERVE – When the Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Home in St. John Parish opened its doors to the public for the first time on Monday morning, it welcomed one of the parish’s own as its newest resident.

For war veteran Gene Vicknair, 60, of Reserve, it was a special kind of homecoming.

&#8220Here is nice. It feels like I’m back home and family is back together,” he said, perhaps referring to his fellow veterans as family, according to his wife Marlene.

&#8220A lot of things change throughout your lifetime, but a veteran he will always be,” she said. &#8220No one knows what tomorrow will bring, so take each moment of your life, put it on a pedestal, then cherish it.”

Vicknair’s new home, a $23 million state-of-the-art 93,000 square foot facility complete with recreational areas, a computer lab, library, arts and crafts and a soon to be usable fishing pond, is the first community of its kind in the River Parishes and stands as a home distinctly different from any other.

&#8220Louisiana takes care of its veterans,” said Louisiana Department of Veteran’s Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Homer Rodgers.

Everyone admitted to the facility must have served 90 days in the military during wartime, and officials expect resident’s similar experiences to create a sense of camaraderie lacking at nursing homes.

Even a number of the home’s volunteers with military experience lend a helping hand to the heroes like Vicknair staying at the home.

As a lifelong Louisiana resident, Vicknair was born in Norco, where he spent the first 29 years of his life before he lived 31 years in Reserve and as of Monday claimed LaPlace as home. Vicknair served in the criminal investigation division of the military police group from 1968 when he was drafted until his discharge in 1974. The majority of his service was spent at the Fort Polk Army Base in Leesville, La.

(See Veterans Home, page 3A)

His untiring efforts investigating numerous crimes played an instrumental role in maintaining Fort Polk’s low crime rate. His commanding officer described him as a person displaying excellence and dedication while performing his duties, according to Marlene Vicknair.

The home has already accepted six veterans as residents and will ultimately support 152. An average of two veterans are being welcomed per week, according to the Director of Social Services Kerry Ermon, which sets the home on a course to reach full capacity in September 2007.

Veterans are granted housing at a maximum cost of $1519 per month, but in some cases the War Veteran’s Home staff will financially assist those in need.

The Veterans Administration paid for 65% of the facility’s total cost, with the other 35% covered by the state of Louisiana. The 25-acre build site was donated by St. John Parish.

St. John Parish became the site for the Veteran’s Home after a competitive bidding war between St. Bernard, St. Tammany and St. John Parishes that began in 2003. LaPlace resident and Louisiana veteran V.J. Theriot brought the Veteran’s Home proposal to the St. John Council, and of Representative Bobby Faucheaux, Parish President Nickie Monica, the Parish Council, Director of Economic Development Julia Remondet and countless local veterans and organizations worked with state officials to bring the home to St. John Parish.

&#8220Thank you, St. John Parish, for giving my husband, my veteran and my best friend such a beautiful place to now call ‘his new home,’” Marlene Vicknair said.

The Veteran’s Home is still accepting new applicants, who can apply at the home at 4080 West Airline Highway in Reserve.