LYNN — Veterans wandered around the parking lot for the Veterans Affairs Clinic on Boston Street, taking in the booths set up to help veterans and their families in different ways.
“Coming back from Vietnam was totally different than now,” said Bob Lennon, a former Marine. “Back then, you came back alone. There wasn’t the support people have today.”
Don Fahey, who also served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, agreed.
“It’s nice to know (the community) cares and to have the local support,” Fahey said.
Saturday’s Veterans Resource Fair and Open House, which was organized by the Bedford VA Health Care System , helped vets sign up for services, get flu shots, and learn how to file claims for injuries. The day was organized by Mike Sweeney, director of Lynn’s Department of Veteran Services and by Mary Lopresti, the department’ administrative assistant.
Sweeney said that he was happy to see so many veterans signed up right then and there for VA health care, flu shots, welcome-home bonuses, and VA claims.
“So many veterans say to me that they don’t want to take services away from people who need it more,” said Sweeney. “I have to explain to them that the opposite will happen; more people won’t get services, the services will be taken away if more veterans don’t use them.”
Sweeney said that he frequently sees veterans who feel undeserving of services, adding that vets often consider them “special treatment” for their time served abroad.
Mayor Thomas M. McGee stressed that he wanted veterans to know that the city is standing behind them. As he wandered around the event, he stopped to talk to different veterans from across Lynn.
“We want them to know that we’re here for them and we really support them,” McGee said. “We make sure we continue to stand for them.”
General Andrea Gayle-Bennett, who served in the Iraq war, said that at the event she spoke with a Korean War veteran who said he used to jump out of planes. Gayle-Bennett said she was upset to see a man in his 90s not be signed up for services or know that he could file a claim for injuries sustained from his service.
Gayle-Bennett said that she did understand how confusing it can be when a veteran first leaves the service.
“I didn’t know what benefits there were at first,” Bennett said. “So much information is thrown at us that you have to search to find the answers and, most of the time, these vets just want to go home.”
Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) said that the day was a true example of all the hard work the members of the Department of Veterans Services does for former armed forces members in Lynn.
“This day is a testament to Mike (Sweeney) and Mary (Lopresti),” Crighton said. “They’re making sure veterans know what resources they have.”
Katelyn Sahagian can be reached at [email protected]
