The Alabaster Veterans Center, Inc. was founded by Goodwin-Lee Post 138 American Legion to serve as the primary hub and one-stop service location for all U.S. military Veterans, regardless of where they reside. The center involves the help and support of citizens, community leaders and Veteran volunteers, who serve to share their energy and talents to help all U.S. Veterans.
Goodwin-Lee Post 138 American Legion
Goodwin-Lee Post 138 American Legion was chartered in 1945 in the City of Alabaster, Alabama. Named after two local mill workers killed in action in World War II, PVT Vernon L. Goodwin and GM3C James Pat Lee, Post 138 became the American Legion pillar for the city and a mainstay in the community, primarily participating in local events and sponsoring teams in local and Legion sports. Over the course of many years, Post 138’s membership declined with the passing of many of its active members. Post 138 lay dormant for many years until 2018, with the leadership of Paul Gonthier, the new Post Commander, and participation of the other long standing members.
Today, Post 138 has almost 100 active members who have worked hard to grow the Post and serve the community. Post 138 has partnered with the City of Alabaster to create and sustain the new Alabaster Veterans Center.
Board of Directors
Paul Gonthier serves as the President of the Board of Directors for the Alabaster Veterans Center, Inc., located in Alabaster, Alabama. With over 30 years of military service, holding numerous positions and multiple assignments as a United States Army officer, including tours of duty in Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, Gonthier retired in 2011 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Proud parents to three grown children, four grandchildren, and one great grandchild, Gonthier and his wife now love to travel, sightsee and take in the many beauties of this Nation. But Gonthier’s passion is assisting local Veterans in navigating the many resources available to them and their families.
In 2018, Gonthier became the Commander of Alabaster’s then defunct American Legion Post 138 where he led the Post to a resurgence and present membership level of over 100 members. Over his three years as Commander, Gonthier has earned Post 138 the Post Excellence Award and an Achievement Certificate for over 101% Membership Goal tor 2019-2020. In May 2021 Gonthier was elected to be the American Legion Department of Alabama District 23 Commander. As District Commander, Gonthier manages and oversees 15 American Legion Posts in Central Alabama. As a member of the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR), Gonthier honors Veterans by standing flag lines at cemeteries for the families, and escorting Veterans to their final resting place. Gonthier has a Bachelors of Science in Business Management and holds life memberships in the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Reserve Officers Association (ROA), and the United States Army Chemical Corps Regimental Association.
Trenton Agee serves as a Director on the Board of Directors for the Alabaster Veterans Center, Inc. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force where he served as an Air Traffic Controller during the Cuban Missile Crises and the early stages of the Vietnam War. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, in 1966. He worked for over forty years in project management in the Pulp and Paper industry. Agee has spent most of his adult life in various volunteer organizations. Included in these were the Thomasville Rescue Squad, Thomasville Volunteer Fire Department, Monroe County EMA and American Legion. He also served four years on the Thomasville City Council where he assisted in developing and implementing a new water system for the city. He presently serves as 1st Vice Commander for Alabaster American Legion Post 138.
Bridget Wright serves as a Director on the Board of Directors of the Alabaster Veterans Center, Inc. As the wife of a retired Air Force Veteran with 33 years of service, Bridget knows all too well the sacrifices that our Veterans and their families make for them to have the opportunity to serve this great country.
Bridget’s work as a certified Medicare specialist and state licensed insurance broker has allowed her to work closely with Veterans on understanding their Medicare plans and benefits that are available to them. She frequently travels to the surrounding cities in the state to assist Veteran's and seniors with benefit enrollment questions and concerns.
She is also actively involved in her church's audio/visual ministry, assisting with any projects that would require an understanding of how to help make things work in that space. Working with the TAV (Television/Audio/Visual) team of her church, she has assisted in the areas of digital and online marketing, newsletter distribution, managing social media pages and websites, camera operation and speaker preparation (microphones, lapel mics, etc.). She attended Auburn University in pursuit of an Accounting degree. She is currently also pursuing a theology degree from Bethany Divinity College in Dothan, AL.
Her community involvement also extends to the area schools as she has assisted with various school athletic and academic programs in providing services to the community. This has included working with Manna Ministries, the Air Force JROTC at THS, PTO Boards and the Marching Southern Sounds band.
Bridget has been very fortunate to be involved in the Alabaster community for over 25 years and counts it as a blessing to have lived, worked and raised three children, with her husband, in such a family-oriented town for their entire school careers.