Massachusetts veterans slam state for failing them, push for new definition

Veteran arrangement leaders across Massachusetts say the state s definition of veteran is failing them as it blocks them from providing benefits available to others who fought in past wars and are calling for a change A bill pending at the State House would update the definition of veteran aligning the state and federal characterizations which certain Bay State veterans argue would make them eligible for benefits available under the HERO Act Gov Maura Healey and state lawmakers have called the HERO Act signed into law last year the the greater part comprehensive piece of veterans provision considered in decades including protection for veterans receiving state Chapter benefits from losing those entitlements when their federal benefits change Veteran Advocate Robert Notch called the HERO Act a great step forward in aligning the state definition of veteran with the federal He added that it falls short though as it doesn t consider other key forces and services The proposed definition would include Uniformed Services adding officers who have served in the Commissioned Corps of the U S Populace Fitness Facility and the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as veterans They would join the Armed Forces Army Marine Corps Navy Air Force Space Force Coast Guard and any additional military amenity created by the U S Department of Defense including reserve components Under the new definition veterans would be anyone who has been on full-time operation whether it be any period of advancing or inactive duty As of now National Guard members have to be activated to be eligible for benefits Gumersindo Gomez executive director of the Vietnam Veterans of America who founded a veterans outreach center in Springfield in says he has trained various National Guard members over the years teaching them how to be soldiers But he s been prevented from providing Guard and Reserve members with benefits even as they were ready for deployment This is very unfair to them he stated It was not their fault that they were not called to serve overseas he added They were ready they were willing yet we are denying them services Chapter is a state-funded venture that provides direct financial assistance to veterans and families facing financial hardship with benefits helping cover essential necessities daily living expenses curative and dental costs rent and housing backing etc The HERO Act included more than a dozen different spending and initiative initiatives covering the modernization of state veterans services and commitments to inclusivity and greater representation Lisa McPhee adjutant of the American Legion Department of Massachusetts announced she and her colleagues embraced the Hero Act She highlighted how those benefits though cannot be accessed by people who went to California and served in the fires hurricanes all those other things that regular Army people don t literally do It s time to reboot the definition of veteran she mentioned I ve served with very great people and I ve met a lot of people who were reservists who were part of the Coast Guard the Space Force For us to not recognize them is a mistake