BURLINGTON VETERANS' NEWSLETTERS

......from the desk of Bob Hogan, Director of Veterans' Services,

Town Hall, Burlington, Massachusetts     781 270-1960

Burlington Veterans' Newsletter

Fall/Winter 

(Part 1 of 2) -  2002/Click HERE for VA Update - Part 2 of 2

Burial Allowance Benefits

A VA burial allowance is a partial reimbursement of an eligible veteran’s burial and funeral costs. When the cause of death is not service-related, the reimbursement is generally described as two payments: a burial and funeral expense allowance, and a plot interment allowance.  

For Service Connected death, the VA will pay $2,000 toward burial expenses. If the veteran is buried in a VA National Cemetery, some of the cost of moving the deceased may be reimbursed.  

For non-service-connected deaths, the VA will pay up to $300 toward burial and funeral expenses, and a $150 plot interment allowance. If the death happens while the veteran is in a VA Hospital or under contracted nursing home care, some of the costs for transporting the deceased’s remains may be reimbursed.

Charging for Ordering DD 214s  

There are on-line services that charge veterans to get their military separation papers. You do not need to pay anyone to get these or any other military documents. A firm called US Vital Documents charges $35.00 to help you get what is yours to get for free. There are a lot of scams going on these days, and we all read about them every day. Many times we don’t know we are being taken, but in this case, I am telling you that you should never pay someone to order your files.

Project SHAD Ships  

The VA has begun to contact veterans who participated in certain military tests involving biological and chemical warfare materials during the 1960s, about medical care and benefits to which they may be entitled. According to the Department of Defense, as of May 2002, the following ships are known to have been involved in Project SHAD tests Autumn Gold, Copper Head, Fearless Johnny, Flower Drum (Phase 1 & Phase 2) and Shady Grove.  

USS Carpenter (DD-825), USS George Eastman (AG-39), USS Granville S. Hall (YAG-40), USS Herbert J. Thomas (DD-833), USS Hoel (DDG-13), USS Navarro (LPA-215), USS Power (DD-839), USS Tioga County (LST-1158),

U.S. Navy Covered Light Barge (YNF-811), U.S. Navy Tug (ATF-105), and five Army light tugs (LT) manned by Navy personnel, LT-2080, LT 2081, LT-2085, LT-2086, and LT-2087.  

Members of the 4533^rd Tactical Test Squadron and 33^rd Tactical Fighter Wing (F-4E aircraft) were also involved.    

Veterans who believe their health may have been affected by these tests should contact the SHAD help line at 1-800-749-8387, or contact the Burlington Office of Veterans Services.

Bob Hope Tribute in Works  

According to a recent VFW Magazine article, a $10 million Military Tribute to Bob Hope will be dedicated to “GI Bob”, America’s only “Honorary Veteran” on May 29, 2003, on his 100^th birthday. In the Port District of San Diego, California.    

During 60 USO tours over five decades, Hope entertained 10 million troops, mostly overseas from World War – 2, to Vietnam. The tribute will consist of five full size statues of the famed entertainer on the points of a five star platform. Five corresponding statues symbolizing each of the services will respond to the jokes through motion activated recordings.  

There is a Web site to get more information, www.hopetribute.org.

Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery Update  

The Massachusetts Veterans’ Cemetery at Agawam will abide by all Commonwealth Regulations and Federal Regulations that govern the operations of veterans’ cemeteries. Specific gravesites cannot be reserved. At the time of need (when death occurs) contact your funeral director. The funeral director will prepare the funeral. There will be no gravesite services allowed. The non-denominational chapel is used for committal serves. The funeral or other service is held at the decedent’s place of worship or at the funeral home.     

Burlington Medal of Honor Recipient  

Did you know that someone from Burlington was awarded the Medal of Honor? During the Philippine Resurrection, Frank O. Walker who was a Private with Company F. 46^th Infantry Division, United States Volunteers was awarded the Medal of Honor on March 11, 1902 for Conduct Above and Beyond the Call of Duty. Although he was born in South Boston, he entered the service as a resident of Burlington, and was serving near Taal, Luzon, in the Philippine Islands. The citation reads that Walkers heroics during enemy fire saved the life of a drowning American soldier. 

Getting Your Paperwork in Order  

Once again I write this to remind every veteran and their family members to sit and think about what happens when something happens to the veteran. When a veteran dies or becomes seriously ill, that is not the time to think about it. As the Director of Veterans Services, I am one of the individuals who deal with the surviving family members, as well as funeral homes when a veteran passes away, and I am the one who veterans or family members call when the veteran becomes ill. It is your responsibility to make sure that your family knows where your Separation Papers are located and what your desires are for either the dispersement of your estate and what quality of life you wish for yourself. I suggest, as I have done now for five years, to bring a copy to the Office of Veterans Services in the Human Services Building so we can have a copy on file. Nothing can be done on your behalf for veteran’s benefits without the Separation Papers.  

                It is very important that all your documents and paperwork are completely updated and in the hands of the right people, so when the inevitable happens, your wishes and needs are dealt with properly. I see too many instances when the wrong decisions are made without properly thinking them through, or by not asking experts for their opinion.  

Web Page  

This website, offered by the Burlington Office of Veterans Services, is a one stop on-line location for information about veterans federal and state benefits and issues, as well as a broad range of information and links to military newsletters from all branches of the active duty military, all veterans service organizations web pages, as well as interesting local information and history articles.   The Web Page you are now looking at was developed with the assistance of Middlesex Community College, and is maintained and updated in this office by Betty McDonough.  

Page Revised: December 29, 2005