Following parade from Lawrence Memorial Hall to the town common, a brief ceremony was held to acknowledge the sacrifice of Belchertown’s servicemen and women and their families on Veterans Day on Friday. Air Force Major Keith Poulin (Ret.) said that on Veterans Day, “we remember the sacrifice of all veterans who served in any capacity in the defense of our nation.” This was followed by another ceremony at Veterans Memorial Auditorium at Belchertown High School, which included performances by Chestnut Hill Community School Band and Choir.
Belchertown resident Morgan Kimball shared why he felt Veterans Day was so important.
“The veterans are what made this country what it is. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have everything that we have,” said Kimball.
Veterans Day video from the Department of Veterans Affairs
The theme of this year’s Veterans Day ceremonies was about helping veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan adapt to life at home.
VFW Commander and Vietnam Veteran George “Archie” Archible took a moment during the ceremony on the town common to encourage those in attendance to support Jessica’s Boundless Playground. Because the playground will be universally accessible, Archible said that it will help returning veterans with disabilities readjust to life at home by providing them with a place where they can play with their children.
“Please help Jessica’s Boundless Playground on behalf of the veterans,” said Archible.
Lieutenant Colonel David Vacchi’s (Ret.) keynote speech at the ceremony at the high school continued the theme of helping veterans readjust to life at home.
“America owes you, our veterans, whatever help you need and no one should turn you away,” said Vacchi.
Because the today’s world is changing so fast, Vacchi said that it more difficult for servicemen and women to adjust to life at home after a one-year deployment overseas. Echoing lessons learned from the Vietnam War, he also said that more veterans are returning with injuries that would have resulted in death in previous wars, increasing the debt owed to them.
“Our medical professionals are so good at what they do, that the numbers of military professionals returning alive or wounded will be higher than any previous war except the Civil War. We owe it to these warriors to help them transition back to a society that embraces them as proud Americans rather them keeping them at a distance, like we did after Vietnam,” said Vacchi.
Vacchi also said that most servicemen and women are returning home without injuries, “yet still struggle to rejoin society after the inevitable changes brought on by war and military service.”
Vacchi said many veterans’ needs still aren’t being met, however. He explained that a couple of years ago, before he was retired, a young group of veterans returning to school at UMASS formed a student-veteran support group. He said that the group met resistance.
“This is not what I expect from our society. I believe that the United States is the best nation in the world. We have the most charitable citizens in the world, but why do we fall short in helping our own citizens so much, particularly our veterans,” said Vacchi
Vacchi said that unemployment among those veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq is higher than the national average and that veteran homelessness is on the rise. He also pointed out that homeless veterans now include women—some with children.
“This is an embarrassment for our country…This is not in keeping with the honor and respect due to those men and women that we honor on Veterans Day who sacrifice so the rest of us can live comfortably under their watchful protection,” said Vacchi.
Veterans in Massachusetts will be getting additional help with more funding for veterans services and other proposals.
Governor Deval Patrick announced today that he signed a $51.9 million supplemental budget to provide funding to sustain essential state services. The bill will provide an additional $700,000 in “Welcome Home Bonuses” for returning veterans, $200,000 for Line of Duty Death Benefits, and $308,000 for the Department of Veterans Services.
Last week, the governor’s office announced that the Registry of Motor Vehicles will be issuing ‘Veteran’ designations on drivers licenses. The purpose is to increase awareness about the availability of resources for veterans.
Also announced last week, the Patrick-Murray Administration also announced it will:
-Propose up to $2.86 million in additional funding for enhanced veterans services in the Fiscal Year 2013 budget.
-Partner with major trade associations to encourage them to hire veterans and circulate information on veterans benefits.
-File legislation as part of the Fiscal Year 2013 budget proposal to provide the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership with $500,000 in funding to train and employ veterans who qualify for state benefits.
-Support the collaboration of military, state, and community resources to establish a Military Child Educational Awareness Program, an expansion of the Massachusetts National Guard’s successful pilot program for military children in the Massachusetts school system.
-Create a Student Veterans sub-committee of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans’ Services. Create a Veterans’ Re-Employment and Training sub-committee of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans’ Services.
Belchertown veterans are encouraged to contact Veterans Services Agent Ray Janke about benefits available to them at 413-323-0409.
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