(KPLC) - For the next year, KPLC will be looking back at significant people and milestones that helped shape our communities leading up to our country’s 250th birthday.

Browse through significant events in Southwest Louisiana history below.

Find more This Day in History here .

Dec. 1, 1941: The DeRidder USO was accepted by the United Service Organization. Hundreds of USOs were built for servicemen during World War II to support them and their families. What is unique about this USO is that it was the first not built on a military reservation – it was built specifically for the USO. Records show almost 90,000 soldiers visited the DeRidder location. The building now serves as the War Memorial Civic Center.

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