Held annually in November on the weekend nearest to Veterans Day, VetFest was established in 2020 by members of the Department of Louisiana Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4588 to support those who serve by uniting, informing, and ultimately strengthening the Veterans & First Responders within our community.
Our Veterans & First Responders often feel alone and isolated because of the traumatic events that are all part of protecting & serving. They’re afraid to ask for help because they fear judgment. They feel isolated because not everyone understands. Some turn to drugs & alcohol to dull the pain, while others resort to suicide because the pain is too much to bear.
Assuring our Veterans & First Responders that they are not alone and letting them know It’s okay to not be okay gives them the strength and courage they may need to seek assistance.
VetFest allows us to unite our local first responder community to ensure they are informed and have access to the organizations that exist solely to serve them, bridging the gap between our heroes and the help they need to live happy and healthy lives while offering a platform to meet and interact with others just like themselves.
But VetFest isn’t just for Veterans & First Responders; the community they serve is a big part of the recovery process, and that’s why everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
Cox graduated from Homer High School in 1966 and entered the Army in 1967. Completed basic training and infantry training at Fort Polk. Volunteered for jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia. Selected to go to the West Point Prep School at Ft Belvoir, Virginia. Served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam. Graduated from Louisiana State University in criminal justice and was commissioned from the University of Southern Mississippi ROTC program upon graduating with a masters in criminal justice. Cox returned to active duty and commanded a military police company in Panama and infantry company with the 5th Division at Fort Polk. He left active duty to attend Loyola Law School, New Orleans and commanded 2 infantry companies in the Louisiana National Guard. Served in the 95th Infantry Training Division as an S3, Bn XO, commanded two battalions and a brigade, and last assignment was the assist division commander for support. Volunteered to serve in Iraq where he was assigned to the Ministry of Justice and lead a team that reestablished the juvenile court in Baghdad. Cox graduating from airborne school, air assault school, Ranger school, Army and Marine Corps command staff general schools.
His awards include Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Legion of Merit. Cox retired in 2005 as a colonel. Civilian legal career includes assistant district attorney in New Orleans and Caddo Parishes, assistant Shreveport city attorney and judicial administrator of Caddo Parish Juvenile Court. Cox is married to Barbara and they 3 children and 6 grandchildren.