Robert “Bobby” Lovergne Jr. was recently installed as the 2020-2021 Department of Louisiana Commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, becoming the first St. Charles Parish resident to ever hold the state leadership position.
Lovergne, a Luling resident, led VFW Post 3750 West St. Charles for nearly a decade and has been involved in the VFW organization for 30 years.
“Since I have joined the post three years ago, Bobby has been a man of honesty and integrity who has led this group of veterans through multiple community outreach programs and engagements,” Craig Broussard Jr., VFW Post 3750 Sr. Vice Commander, said. “As a post, we have had events that were tailored to veterans such as district meetings, VA town hall meetings, veterans’ breakfasts and holiday get-togethers, but the greatest accomplishment I have seen is the community engagement. We are out there, and the community knows it. Bobby is a man of the community, and through his leadership and understanding, he has made this Post 3750 a well-respected landmark and we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Lovergne has held other VFW positions in the past, including District 2 Commander, Department Chief of Staff, National Convention Patriotic Celebration Chairman, Southern Conference Convention Chairman, National Aide De Camp and National Assistant Chief of Staff. He made Department of Louisiana All State Commander Team six times and achieved All-American Post Commander three times.
Bobby Lovergne was recently installed as VFW State Commander in a ceremony at Eunice Post 8971. The installing officer was Past State Commander Wyatt Lobrano.
Department of Louisiana Commander is the highest VFW leadership position in the state.
“I could not have been prouder to know that one of our own in St. Charles Parish has been promoted to this distinguished position,” Broussard said. “Post 3750 will stand behind Bobby every step of the way, just as he has stood behind his post and fellow members throughout his command.”
Lovergne will spend the year traveling around the state to visit as many VFW posts as he can.
“There are currently 11,419 VFW members in the state and 81 posts,” Lovergne said. “There are 10 different districts within the state. I’ll at least visit each district.”
Serving as the state’s Commander is a one-year commitment, Lovergne said, adding it’s an immense commitment to juggle the constant emails, phone calls and travel that the position entails. He is also currently employed full-time. Even so, he said his family has been completely supportive of his decision to serve in the role.
“It’s a lot of commitments, but you have to be committed to do what rights for the veterans,” he said. “When you take care of the veterans, like when they need help with the VA or someone is having issues with PTSD, it gives you that feeling that you’ve done something good.”
Lovergne served for 20 years in Air Force before retiring in 2002. He served in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
One of his favorite components of the VFW is the advocacy, he said.
“We’re the largest veteran’s service organization in the nation and once a year we testify in front of Congress about the priority goals of the VFW,” Lovergne said. “The VFW was a major player in the Blue Water Navy Act … it was a lot of work between law makers and the VFW to get it passed.”
The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 extended the presumption of herbicide exposure, such as Agent Orange, to veterans who served in the offshore waters of the Republic of Vietnam.
Lovergne said any veteran in St. Charles Parish who needs any help, or any veteran interested in joining the VFW, can contact the local post at vfw_post_3750@yahoo.com or 985-785-8379.
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