Eighteen Fort Polk Progress members, including the mayors of Leesville and DeRidder, will travel to Washington, D.C., to advocate their cause to congressional and defense officials April 23-24.

They will meet with U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., who is on the Senate Committee on Appropriations; Sen. David Vitter, R-La.; and Reps. John Fleming and Rodney Alexander to ask for their support.

The team also plans to meet at the Pentagon with Army leaders. Group chairman Michael Reese will provide them with an audio-visual package of last week’s community meeting in Leesville with Army officials.

About 2,000 people lined Leesville’s streets and crowded into First United Pentecostal Church during the meeting.

“This is a critical time in the Army’s process of planning for downsizing,” said Deborah Randolph, president of the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce.“It is important to keep up the momentum resulting from the successful community meeting.”

(American Press Archives)