Archive 2008 - 2019

Veterans Services Discussed

by Andrea Pessolano
10/25/2014

Representative John Fernandes, Maggie Brothers of Survivor Outreach Services, Chris Lessard of Massachusetts Fallen Heroes, Representative Jeffrey Roy, and Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs Coleman Nee attend the MetroWest Veterans’ Consortium Forum Wednesday night.

Boston, MA— Last night, members of the MetroWest Veterans Consortium, including founding member Representative Carolyn Dykema, Representative John Fernandes, and Representative Jeff Roy, met with Secretary of Veterans’ Services Coleman Nee and Maggie Brothers of Army Survivor Outreach Services to discuss support services available for families of fallen service men and women. Veterans’ advocates from across the MetroWest region gathered to discuss current issues facing our veterans and ways the community can come together to better assist our service members and their families. 

“It was a pleasure to have Secretary Nee and Maggie Brothers join our MetroWest Veterans Consortium event to discuss services available for survivors. It’s so important that family members of our fallen, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country, know that the Commonwealth and the veterans’ community is always there to support them,” stated Representative Dykema. “The meeting started a great dialogue on ways our veteran service officers, state officials, community members, and nonprofits organizations can coordinate in providing for families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”

“Massachusetts leads the nation in benefits and services for our veterans, service members and their families,” said Secretary Coleman Nee.  “Our national position is a direct result of the tremendous support veterans receive from advocates like Representative Dykema, Representative Fernandes, and Representative Roy.  With their advocacy and support for our veterans and their families we can maximize our resources to ensure we continue to provide the access and the knowledge to the finest benefits in the country.”

“I commend Representative Dykema for her effort to organize the MetroWest Veteran’s Consortium.  She has created a terrific platform upon which to share information with and among veterans and those who serve to meet the veterans’ needs,”  said Representative Fernandes (D- Milford). “Last night’s event was an informative and helpful exchange of information and concerns.  Secretary Nee is simply one of the finest state leaders and has been a great friend of the veteran.  He spoke with passion about the issues we face and the need to address them.  The presentation on survivor programs was well done and offered another avenue for survivors to connect.  I was pleased to have been a part of the event.”

"I was honored to join Reps. Dykema and Fernandes, along with veterans from across MetroWest, for a thoughtful and important discussion about the array of services available to our veterans and the Valor Acts passed by the legislature," noted Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin). "Meetings like this are important to identify the support, information and services that are needed and I applaud Rep. Dykema for spearheading this effort."

Maggie Brothers of Army Survivor Outreach Services spoke about the need for long-term care for survivor families, including emotional counseling and financial assistance.

“Our mission is to build a unified program which embraces and reassures survivors that they are continually linked to the Army Family for as long as they desire,” said Ms. Brothers, a Gold Star wife herself who lost her husband due to a service-related injury in 2012. “I was thrilled to attend the event and be able to share my services and connect to the veterans’ service officers in the area. Supporting those who have defended our freedoms is a privilege and honor.”

Steve Bradford of the Holliston American Legion Post was instrumental in coordinating the event.

“I first met Maggie Brothers at the 2014 Thanks To Yanks annual tribute dinner on 9/11. We discussed her program and how it supports our Gold Star Families. I thought it would be a great idea to spread the word to the MetroWest Veterans Consortium so our veterans’ community can learn more about the services she provides,” said Bradford.

Representative Carolyn Dykema founded the MetroWest Veterans’ Consortium in 2012 to bring together leaders in the Veterans community to share experiences and successes as well as highlight needs and concerns of veterans in the MetroWest area. The aim of this consortium is to provide local veterans’ advocates with up-to-date information about veterans’ services, encourage dissemination of this information in the 19 member communities, and build consensus and support for initiatives that support local veterans.

To find out more about the MetroWest Veterans Consortium, please call 617-722-2210.

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State Representative Carolyn Dykema represents the towns of Holliston, Hopkinton, Southborough and Westborough (pct. 2) and has served on the Committee for Veterans & Federal Affairs since entering office in 2009.