The Office of Veterans Service

            With the aging veteran population, the focus and primary concerns of the Burlington Office of Veterans Services is working with those veterans to ensure they and their families receive the proper benefits due them. The number of recorded veterans in Burlington in 2001 listed at approximately 1,900. We also interact with a wide variety of residents on a myriad of issues and topics.

            The Office of Veterans Services is really a one stop Human Service Office and has as its top priorities: the providing of services designed to improve the quality of life for every veteran in town, their families and surviving dependents, for people with disabilities and their families, families in need of fuel assistance, and those wishing to be employed under Labor Services with the town.

            This does not include people and entire families who continue to arrive at our door looking for advice and assistance with issues not listed in our title. The Office of Veterans Services handles innumerable human service issues for many citizens of town. Elderly and young alike are always asking about job assistance, or seeking information and assistance about Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Families seek us out and ask for advice about health insurance and health care as well as educational assistance for college bound children. We also answer questions about long-term care. With additional low-income families living in subsidized housing in Burlington, many people arrive at this office to ask questions and seek assistance.

1.            VETERANS SERVICES

            Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 115 grants eligible Burlington veterans, their families and their surviving dependents benefits to provide for daily living. These benefits also cover medical insurance and medical care payments for residents who are uninsured or underinsured. These benefits are intended to be temporary in nature and not a full time, permanent support system.

            The Commonwealth reimburses the town 75% of the money spent directly on the veteran in the way of veteran’s benefits.

2. VETERANS AFFAIRS

            US Code, Title 38 directs federal benefits to eligible veterans and their families. These include pensions, disability compensation, final burial expenses, education, hospitalization, mortgage loan guarantee, outpatient care and domiciliary care. Evaluation, assistance and counseling are offered at the local level to facilitate access to these programs.

            Veteran’s benefits are not automatic in any sense of the word. These benefits must be applied for in accordance with strict state and federal laws, rules and regulations. Many hours are spent counseling veterans, their families, and surviving dependents regarding the filing of claims to the Department of Veterans Services in Boston for state claims, and the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington for federal benefits.

            Daily consultations with local veterans regarding retirement and pension issues, medical and insurance assistance, employment possibilities, rehabilitation through various programs including the State and Federal Outreach Centers, individual problems, affect of new legislative proposals, and updating of existing programs, plus discussions with families and dependents continue to claim a large proportion of our time. With the veterans population aging and dying in ever larger numbers, the number of veterans and families seeking veterans benefits, counseling and advice continues to increase.

            The Veterans Agent also writes articles for the local newspapers informing veterans and their families about important and historical information that might be of interest to them, in addition to the semi-annual newsletter that is mailed directly into the home of every veteran twice a year with valuable updates and information about services available to the veterans and their family.

            The Burlington Director of Veterans Services is a Past President of the Northeast Veterans Services Officers Association. He is also a member of the Massachusetts Service Officers Association. The Veterans Agent is the Adjutant of the Burlington Allied Veterans Council, comprised of representatives of the American Legion Post #273, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post # 7423, The Disabled American Veterans Post #113, and the Marine Corp League.

Every effort is put forth by the Office of Veterans Services to ensure proper observances of Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The Council conducts Poppy (Forget Me Nots) Sales through its member organizations at the high school polling place each election. The Allied Veterans also spend many afternoons throughout the year visiting the Edith Nourse Rogers Veterans Hospital in Bedford to sit and talk and conduct Bingo games and holiday parties for our brother and sister veterans confined to the hospital.

            The Director of Veterans Services is also a member of the Burlington American Legion, the Burlington VFW and the Vietnam Veterans of America.

3. DECEASED VETERANS

            Assistance is offered to families of deceased veterans in reviewing available benefits, filing for government life insurance, obtaining burial allowances, markers, and burial lots in our local cemeteries. With an increase of World War 2 Veterans passing away, and with the loss of retirement benefits, many local veteran’s have been arriving at our door seeking assistance in applying for health care benefits with the VA, this office has seen an increase in the services requested by veterans and their surviving family members for assistance.

4. GRAVES OFFICER

            Section 9 of Chapter 115 MGL requires flags of the United States to be placed on graves of deceased veterans each Memorial Day. Cooperation in this responsibility has always been afforded by the town’s cemetery personnel. Individual flag holders are provided by the town. The Graves Officer ensures that every eligible veteran has a flag on his or her grave. The Graves Officer is also responsible for ensuring that only veterans discharged under Honorable Conditions are given consideration for the purchase of a grave in the Veterans Section of either the Chestnut Hill or Pine Haven Cemeteries. In addition, a bronze marker is provided by the US Government for honorably discharged veterans and is applied for by the Graves Officer.

5. CEREMONIES

            In 2001, town celebrated our country’s 225th birthday, with a special Memorial Day celebration on the Town Common. In addition to the Burlington High School Marching Band, and local honor guards from the Fire Department, The Marine Corps League, the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion and VFW, we had re-enactment groups representing each era in our country’s 225 years.

            The Consul general’s from England and South Korea were also on hand to celebrate this event. The Honorable George Fergusson, from England, and The Honorable Jayson Park of the Republic of South Korea gave moving talks about the strong bond between our countries.

Memorial Day Photo (Participants & residents on the Town Common for Memorial Day Ceremonies)

Also joining us were the members of the Board of Selectmen, and State Representative Charles Murphy. Selectman Chairman Juliet Perdichizzi spoke for the Board.

We also want to thank all the veterans and veterans service organizations and citizens who participated in remembering our veterans, living and dead, on this special day.

            The flag raising and canon fire, marked by the playing of Call To Colors, which  kicked off Veterans Day 2001. Veterans Day is celebrated in the memory of all the young men and women who put on the uniform of our great country and left family and friends to serve in far off places. The ceremony was held at the Pine Haven Cemetery.

                                    Veterans Day Photo (Flag at Half-Staff for Veterans’ Day Ceremonies)

A Bell tolled 11 times reflecting the eleventh hour of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month that the Armistice was signed ending World War 1, thanks to Al Fay. We then heard a touching rendition of Taps. The Burlington High School Band played the US National Anthem and the military theme songs of the five branches of military service.

6. DISABILITY ACCESS COMMISSION (DAC)

            This office provides coordination between the Commission and the town, local businesses and residents of Burlington. Serving as the representative of the Board of Selectmen to the Commission, this office coordinates, schedules and maintains records of all DAC business. We also serve as the office receiving complaints about handicapped issues. The DAC continues to work with the town and the schools to ensure accessibility and reasonable accommodations in the various buildings.

7. FUEL ASSISTANCE

            Eligible residents apply for this joint state and federal benefit through this office. Burlington has more than three hundred families who apply for and receive fuel assistance benefits every year. This office is responsible for all eligible residents under 62 years of age. Verification is sometimes time consuming , but obtaining all the information needed for determination of the candidate is absolutely necessary. Also, families on fuel assistance often need additional guidance and assistance and utilize this office as the resource for information and direction they need to improve their quality of life.

8. LABOR SERVICE

            This office also is responsible for maintaining the Labor Services List for the town. Labor Service is the part of Civil Service that does not require an exam to be placed on the list. The departments in town that utilize the Labor Services List are: DPW, Recreation and the school cafeterias. There are approximately 176 individuals who are presently listed on the Labor Services Roster.

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

                                                            Robert C. Hogan, Director

                                                            Betty McDonough, Clerk