By Kyle Roberts
RUSTON, La. — The Ruston Civic Center was packed front to back Thursday night to raise support and honor veterans and Purple Heart recipients at the “Willie Belton American Hero Hunt” banquet, started by both Army Veteran David Chrisman and District Attorney John Belton.
“Helping veterans is everything to us,” Chrisman said. “My parents instilled this into me – my love for my country. When we started this four years ago, John and I bootstrapped it on our own, and we had maybe eight or ten sponsors. And it’s just grown so much from there, and I’m overwhelmed and so happy.”
The banquet was the first for the group, but Belton and Chrisman have been hosting the hunt for the last four years on Belton’s hunting property in Ouachita parish for Purple Heart recipients in the region.
“I originally purchased this land on the Ouachita Parish river, and I wanted to not just give back to our community, but also to honor God in doing so,” Belton said. “And David recommended that we start doing a hunt for Purple Heart recipients. And four years ago, we had aour first hunt, and it’s been growing ever since.”
Following an opening prayer by Army Veteran James Austin, the Minden High JROTC Color Guard Crimson Tide Battalion presented the flag for the national anthem, performed by platinum-selling songwriter and Calhoun-native Chancie Neal.
After a word from Chrisman, Neal performed for the crowd through dinner. The keynote speaker of the night was retired Brigadier General Wayne Patterson, who is currently Vice President of Louisiana Machinery, the Caterpillar Dealer of Louisiana.
Belton then presented a $15,000 check to the Ouachita Regional Veterans Association Project for Hope, a group that builds tiny homes for homeless veterans to help get them through tough times and back into the workforce.
“This has been a great partnership,” Belton said. “They provide a great benefit to those who need it. We have a big indebtedness to our veterans, and we need to help them along the way.”
More funds were raised afterward through a raffle and both a live and silent auction with items that ranged from guns to unique prints by artist and photographer Reggie McLeroy.
Belton added that hunters are selected through the organization’s work with local VFW chapters across the state. This year’s Hero Hunters are Brian Aft, Walter Beasley, Clark Cooper, David Stanley and Joseph Womack.
The mission of the American Hero Hunt is “to honor and give back to those who sacrifice for our individual freedom.” The Annual American Hero Hunt for Purple Heart veterans was established in memory of the late Willie Arthur Belton, father of DA John Belton. Willie received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and the Louisiana Medal of Honor for his military service for our country. He was a businessman and political leader who served as advisor to Louisiana Governors Edwin Edwards and David C. Treen.
