American Legion Post 302
84 Bay State Road
Rehoboth, MA 02769
508-252-9079
Monday-Sunday 3 PM to 11 PM
Commander: Albert Howarth
The American Legion, Post 302 is very active in the town of Rehoboth. The membership is very generous and contributes funding (12 to 13 thousand dollars a year) to many town organizations including Helping Hands, fuel assistance, the Police Association, and local little league. The post also donates funds to the Veteran's Services Office to assist local veterans in need. Recently the post, a non-profit organization, voted to donate $2000 to the town of Rehoboth. Additionally the Ladies Auxiliary offers two scholarships to new graduates from D-R Regional High School. Sons of the American Legion - is a group for descendants (sons or daughters) of veterans and/or members of the American Legion. This group assists Post 302 and matches donations made by the post.
VETERAN'S NEWS
AMERICAN LEGION POST 302
DEDICATION OF BENCHES
MAY 29, 2010
WOMEN VETERANS’ NETWORK
HOME BASE PROGRAM
STATEWIDE ADVOCACY FOR
VETERANS’ EMPOWERMENT
VETERANS UPWARD BOUND (VUB)
DIAL-A-LAWYER FOR VETERANS
Date: Mondays from 3 to 5 PM
Phone Number: 617-338-0572
Volunteer attorneys from the Massachusetts Bar Association offer free legal advice to veterans every Monday by phone.
ONGOING WELLNESS PROGRAM
Date: Saturdays from 12:30 to 2 PM
Easton YMCA, 25 Elm Street, Easton, MA
There and Back Again offers a free, ongoing wellness program to help combat veterans manage the symptoms of PTSD. The program focuses on yoga, meditation, and alternative therapies. For more information and to enroll call 1-800-311-0187 or email slynch@thereandbackagainnlaw.org.
UPCOMING EVENTS IN MASS
HELPFUL WEB LINKS
First Lieutenant
Craig Houston Waterman
U.S. Marine Corps
Born: October 14, 1943
Died: July 30, 1967
Hometown: Rehoboth, Massachusetts
Graduated: DRRHS, June 1961
Specialty: 7562, Pilot Medium Helicopter Killed in Action: 30 July 1967 in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam
Repatriated: 8/3/92
Vietnam Wall: Panel 24E, Line 053
Marker: Arlington National Cemetery
Final Burial: Rehoboth Village Cemetery
Captain Benjamin Wilson Sammis
Born: March 18, 1974
Died: April 5, 2003
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown: Rehoboth, Massachusetts
Graduated: DRRHS, June 1992
Parents: Steven and Beth Sammis
Widow: Stacey D. Sammis
Specialty: 7565, Pilot, fixed/rotary wing
Killed in Action: Ali Aziziyal, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom
Final Burial: Area 60, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
$11 MILLION INCREASE IN
MA VETERANS SERVICES
Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray today announced that the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget will include $11.25 million in increased funding to enhance vital services for Massachusetts veterans and their families. Lieutenant Governor Murray made the announcement with Secretary of Veterans’ Services Coleman Nee today at JobNet, Boston’s One Stop Career Center.
More than 385,000 veterans currently live in Massachusetts, including 37,000 men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11. The Patrick-Murray Administration has worked to ensure newly returning veterans, as well as the aging veteran population, continue to receive quality health, housing and employment services to honor their service.
The additional funding will increase reimbursements to cities and town for 100% of homeless veterans’ costs; funding for veterans’ annuities; investments in job training initiatives; support for the veterans‘ smoking cessation program; support for property tax exemptions for Gold Star Spouses; and funding for the Soldiers‘ Home in Chelsea and Holyoke.
In November 2011, Governor Patrick signed a supplemental budget that included more than $1 million in funding to support Welcome Home Bonus payments for returning veterans, including increased payments to veterans who serve multiple tours of duty. Service members stationed abroad can now cast electronic ballots for elections; service-disabled veterans are now included within the existing preferences for hiring of veterans for construction and public-works contracts; and a “Medal of Liberty” has been established that will be awarded to the next of kin of any Massachusetts service member killed in action or who dies as a result of wounds received while in action.
MA OFFERS VETERANS RVM
LICENSES AND PLATES
BOSTON - The Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) will begin offering Massachusetts veterans the option to have the word “Veteran” appear on their driver’s license or ID card, starting in January 2012.
The "Veteran" designation is designed to increase awareness about available resources and benefits. The feature will provide valuable information to first responders and will help the Department of Veterans’ Services notify veterans of benefits they are eligible to receive.
There is no additional cost for the "Veteran" designation, as long as it is added during an individual’s license renewal process. Standard license renewal and duplication fees apply.
HONOR FLIGHT NEW ENGLAND
This organization offers transportation to World War II veterans who with to visit the World War II Memorial at no cost.
Contact Bill Saunders, Rehoboth Veterans’ Services Officer by calling 508-252-4467, ext. 122.
FOR LOCAL VETERANS
Identification Cards for military discounts are NOT available from local veterans’ service officers. Depending upon the store or restaurant some will honor your discharge papers. Some will recognize your VA Health Care ID Card. Some, on the other hand, are only offering the discount to Active Duty Service embers, Reservist and National Guard, and Military retirees.
VA Health Care is looking to get all Vietnam veterans signed up. There is no income ceiling for qualification as there has been in the past. If your discharge shows you received some form of Vietnam service ribbon or award, you are eligible for immediate enrollment. Just take your discharge to the nearest VA Hospital and ask to be enrolled.
Veterans’ Memorial Relocation Committee has begun meeting again to discuss establishing a more permanent location and possible new design.
Old Flags should never be thrown in the trash. They also should never be simply burned in your back yard. Give then to either a civic organization or veterans’ organization that conducts a dignified disposal ceremony. The Veterans’ Service Officer at Town Hall has a box for old flags.
is a publication of Image Communications, Copyright 2012
