by Paul Deschenes
11/10/2018

John Givner, Sarah Bateman and Dave DeGanne are the veterans’ service officers (VSOs) responsible for the Metrowest Veterans’ Service District receiving the Veterans’ Service District of the Year award last month at the annual conference for Massachusetts service districts that was held in Leominster. The Metrowest District includes the towns of Medway, Hopkinton, Holliston and Ashland. Sarah, a veteran herself, is the district’s current full-time VSO, assuming the position upon the departure of John Givner in 2017. Sarah was surprised by the honor, but John had advance notice and told Sarah after they received the award: “It was the hardest secret I’ve ever had to keep.”

VSOs help veterans initiate, file, correct and follow up on applications of claims for various financial and medical services offered to eligible veterans by Massachusetts and the federal government. Assistance to needy veterans in Massachusetts began during the time of the French and Indian War when our Commonwealth was still a colony. Veterans service offices were established formally in Massachusetts at the beginning of the Civil War in 1861 and are regulated through Massachusetts General Law Chapter 115.

Ms. Bateman served her country as a member of the United States Air Force for a number of years just prior to Operation Desert Storm. Her husband is an active duty service member. Her father was a Marine, her father-in-law, a Korean War veteran and her grandfather a doctor during WWII.