Passing on the Legacy Project

Veteran Volunteers needed – Without your help this doesn’t work

We are bringing this wonderful project to Burlington and we need your help. The Leominster Passing on the Legacy Project was a finalist in the National Conference of Mayors, City Livability Awards program and was recognized by the Massachusetts Municipal Association with the Massachusetts Innovative Project award. We want to recreate that legacy and this program in Burlington.  Kevin McKelvey brought the idea to this office after having seen it at the MMA Conference.

 

The Project, which was led by the Leominster Office of Veterans Services, the Leominster Schools and veterans groups in that city, provided opportunities for students to work with veterans to learn first hand the personal side of service to the nation and to the community. The students learned about the service of local men and women who helped shape the world and our communities, by learning about them in interviews and one on one conversations.

 

By learning from these veterans, the students find out how adults have made choices in their lives and have embarked on journeys that have had large consequences for themselves and others. The veterans provided insight into history and civic duty through their respective personal experiences, emotions and lessons learned.

 

Public awareness and appreciation of the importance and positive impact of service to America has been fading. A local program could contribute to the overall development of community pride and sense of collective history. Bringing the generations together with ongoing, shared learning and appreciation should take place in Burlington.

 

We are looking for Veterans to volunteer to be interviewed by students and discuss that time in their youth when all things were possible, and we experienced both great and regular events that changed our lives and the lives of others. Please volunteer to participate. It will be a small commitment of time, but for a very good cause. I know there are great stories out there. The great stories aren’t just those that you are awarded medals for. We need you to call now because the project has three phases. The first is the interview, which must be done during the Fall, then the editing in the Winter months, and hopefully the final project by Memorial Day. Call the Burlington Office of Veterans Services at 781-270-1959 to volunteer. Please.

 

Library Books and Videos of Interest to veterans

The Burlington Public Library is an inviting place, both air-conditioned and handicapped accessible, with much to offer. There are books, videos, DVD’s and music CD’s available for check out that would be of interest to veterans. The Library subscribes to more than 100 magazines and 10 newspapers to meet the interests or hobbies of all. Through the generosity of the Friends of the Burlington Public Library, there are passes available to check out allowing free or reduced admission to 12 area museums and attractions. Computers to access the Internet, a word processing computer, and a computer for the blind or visually impaired with software that enables Internet access are also available.  A trained reference staff is always available to assist in locating information on veteran’s benefits, services, or any other items of interest.

 

Some recently added titles that may be of interest to veterans:

Gulag: a History,  by Anne Applebaum ---A Soldier’s Best Friend: Scout Dogs and their Handlers in the Vietnam War by John Burnham---The First World War by Joe Kirchberger---Hallowed Ground by James McPherson---Jarhead by Anthony Swofford, plus many more.

 

Videos of interest:

Band of Brothers (available in both video and dvd)---Wall that Heals---Windtalkers---Behind Enemy Lines

 

 

Comments about Fund Raisers

This office often gets calls from veterans and their families about donating to groups we know little about. Generally, unless we know personally of the organization, we do not recommend that any donations be made to any organization that knocks on your door, calls you on the telephone or sends you mail.  Many people like to donate to certain organizations, to help veterans, children, animals, etc., and they feel good about it.  There are local groups that you can help that will make you feel good.

 

We also do not recommend making donations if you cannot realistically afford it.  If someone we talk to feels deeply about making a donation, then we always recommend that they wait until the end of the month after all their bills have been paid or accounted for, for groceries, utilities, credit cards, medical needs, etc.

 

After you know you can afford to help others, then we would recommend that the organizations you donate to be one that you can contact, such as your local food pantry, the VA Hospital in Bedford, the Chelsea Soldier’s Home, or the Shriners Burn Institute or the Children’s Hospital in Boston, and even an animal shelter. We know these people. You know your donation will be well received and used properly. All of these organizations have been very hard hit by the changes in the economy.   If your heart tells you that you really want to help and make the donation, then make it local and remember that it is not necessary to make a large one.

 

 

VA Finally approves funding for new veterans cemetery

The Department of Veterans Affairs has finally approved a $7.4 million grant to build a new 25-acre Massachusetts Veterans Cemetery in Winchendon. The cemetery will have 9,200 burial spaces. Massachusetts has another state cemetery in Agawam and a national cemetery in Bourne.

 

Combat Related Special Compensation

We have discussed in the past about the legislation that will allow certain combat disabled retirees to receive both military retired pay based on length of service and VA disability compensation under specific guidelines. The provision became effective May 31, 2003. The law is called Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) and will be paid retroactively to qualifying retirees to June 1, 2003. Eligibility under the law includes:  (1) retirees with at least 20 years of active duty and a disability rating of 10% or more that is associated with the award of a Purple Heart for injuries suffered in combat, (2) Retirees with at least 20 years active duty with a combined VA disability rating for all combat related disabilities that is at least 60% disabling.  There are a couple of other criteria.  Download DD Form 2860 here:  
Concurrent Receipt Agreement Provision  or call Hanscom AFB at 781-377-2476.

 

Incorrect Article about Massachusetts $250 Real Estate Exemption

There was an erroneous statement in an article that appeared in a New Hampshire newspaper that stated that all Massachusetts veterans get real estate abatement on their homes. This office received a lot of calls on this matter. In order to receive an abatement on your real estate taxes in Massachusetts, a veteran must have at least a 10% service connected disability.

 

Possible Restructuring of Bedford VA Hospital

There is a plan to trim Bedford's Veteran’s Administration Hospital into an eight hour a day outpatient clinic operation and move approximately 500 inpatient beds to other facilities like Manchester New Hampshire or Brockton Massachusetts, and it could mean significant changes for employees, veterans and patient’s families. The Edith Nourse Memorial Veterans Hospital is one of 18 veteran’s hospitals across the country being examined by the Department of Veterans Affairs for possible conversion to an eight-hour outpatient facility.

 

VA Secretary Anthony Principi sent a memo to VA Under Secretary of Health Robert Roswell instructing him to strategize a way to convert 18 round-the-clock VA facilities into eight-hour-a-day operations. Bedford is one of the 18. Conversion of the hospital into an outpatient facility would mean moving Bedford's 500 long-term care beds to other locations. That, in turn, would mean changes in staffing for the 910-employee operation. What would be left would be an outpatient facility that closes shop at 5 o'clock.

 

Bethany McIvor, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 221 said  "It would have a really big impact obviously on the employees, the veterans and for families of veterans that are used to having Bedford as an access," McIvor said. "I think people who reside at Bedford - people who work at the VA - are going to be really nervous." This would be a major impact on the local economy.

 

But relocating inpatient services to other areas raises the question of should you do this, said Bob Hogan, Director of Veterans Services for the town Burlington.  "I think the impact would be significant to the veterans," Hogan said. "In addition to the outpatient services already at the Bedford VA, there are several outpatient clinics in this area already. We don't need another outpatient facility." In addition, Hogan said the moving of long-term care patients to other facilities would place a burden on veterans and their families. "Some of these veterans have been there a long time," he said. It would be "a major effect on the families who would have to drive great distances to see their loved ones."

 

We need you to write our congressman, John Tierney,  17 Peabody Square, Peabody, MA 01960, or call him at 978-531-1669 and tell him that we want the Bedford VA to stay as an inpatient facility..

 

Dick Hogan’s Commander 2003 - 2004 American Legion Letter

Burlington’s American Legion Post 273 is looking forward to another successful year of community service.  We plan to increase our support for hospitalized veterans at VAMC Bedford and build more support for the Homeless Veterans Shelter in Boston. In government affairs we will be pushing our legislators to increase funding for veterans medical services at the state and federal level. We are always looking for more veterans to get involved in these projects. As younger Americans join our ranks we have to set the standard.  Let's stick together and look out for one another. If you are a member, come on down and get reacquainted. If you’re not a member, call Dick Hogan at 781-272-9057, or e-mail him at richhogan@comcast.net

 

We congratulate Coaches Jim Algeri and John Simm and the American Legion sponsored “Giants” on winning the town championship in Babe Ruth League baseball this summer.

 

Veterans Status for State-aided Public Housing

 

M.G.L. ch 200, Acts of 1948; M.G.L., ch 121B, a, 1 and s 32:760 CMR 7.04 states that veterans applying for state aided public housing through local housing authorities, when equal in need and eligible for occupancy as other occupants, shall be given preference in tenant selection in the following order:    Families of disabled veterans and the disabled veteran, as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Families of deceased veterans whose death is determined by the Veterans Administration to be service connected and Families of all veterans.

 

The term family or veteran shall include the spouse of a veteran, surviving spouse, dependant child or parent of a veteran, and the divorced spouse of a veteran who is the legal guardian of a child of a veteran.