THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 19, 1994 TAG: 9406170244
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: 940619 LENGTH: Medium
LaChance opened a military collectibles store called LaChance's Seabag in the Bayside area last May. Most of the items have been purchased at flea markets and shows that specialize in military paraphernalia. A gift also helped him add to his inventory.
{REST} ``I got a check from my mom for Christmas. I bought Russian medals with it, and tripled my money,'' said LaChance, an amiable man with a gravelly voice and and an endless supply of sea stories.
``I bought them from Alexander Paretski, a former used-car salesman in Moscow. He's a collector now.'' LaChance has a photograph of Paretski wearing a huge grin and a Russian army uniform.
The Seabag stocks military memorabilia from World War I to Desert Storm. It contains hats from the Soviet secret police and the East German army. Both are now defunct.
``These items are probably going to be valuable one day,'' said LaChance.
In a second room he opened in early June, LaChance has company flags painted for him by seamen recruits he trained in Orlando, Fla.
``Artists among the boots I pushed did them for me. Out of 75-80 recruits you're always gonna have a couple of artists, seems like.''
LaChance pointed to Vietnam-era uniforms, those of a Navy helicopter pilot and a Marine infantryman.
``Vietnam stuff's making a comeback. The veterans are accepting their part in the war and getting rid of some of the stigma,'' LaChance said. He served on the USS McCaffrey for a year in the South China Sea off Danang.
Across the aisle a mannequin modeled a World War I ``doughboy'' uniform, holding a heavy Springfield 03 rifle with long bayonet attached.
LaChance called the Navy ``the best thing that ever happened to me.'' He enlisted at 17, not entirely of his own choice.
``I came in through the judge's program,'' LaChance quipped. ``I was a first-offender, pulling teenage pranks. Judge told me I could either join the service or `go see Bubba.' He meant jail. It didn't take me long to make up my mind.''
LaChance, who was born in Berlin and grew up in North Carolina, completed his high school diploma in the Navy, found a wife, traveled the world - collecting stories before he thought of collecting anything else. He retired as a boatswain's mate chief petty officer.
The Seabag's glass cases and wooden shelves are filled with books, maps, medals and munitions. Behind the counter, LaChance has his personal collection of World War II weapons, a half-dozen rifles.
He offers services, too.
``I can have medals mounted for the guys who bring them in. We sew on name tags, and I have some up-to-date uniforms, some used uniforms, I sell to guys who maybe can't afford the cost of new ones.''
An 80-pound wood carving from Haiti stands next to the entrance. It looks like an old sailor, pipe in mouth.
``I got that off a Haitian for a pair of tennis shoes and $25,'' LaChance said. ``He guards the place when I leave.''
by CNB