SAUGUS — Town Manager Scott Crabtree and Veterans’ Service Officer Paul Cancelliere shared a video discussing the importance of the Veterans’ Service Office with the arrival of Veterans Day.
According to a press release that went with the video, there are three main pillars the office provides for veterans.
The first pillar is “Implementing a variety of state benefits to aid veterans and their families.”
According to Cancelliere, “This helps veterans and families in need to pay for benefits such as health, medical, provide some food and assistance, and some other things that they may need for shelter.”
In the video, Cancelliere said Saugus has around 15 to 20 veterans included in this program.
The next pillar is “Processing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims for veterans and offering assistance for things such as homebuying, education, life insurance, and burials.”
The final pillar is “Community outreach by working with the Saugus Veterans Council to help put together events such as the Memorial Day Parade, POW/MIA Recognition Day, and the Veterans Day ceremony.”
According to Cancelliere, “Having the veterans involved in some of those public activities lends itself to an opportunity for the public to see us and interact with us so we can share our stories with them.”
Massachusetts is the only state where every town and city has a Veterans’ Service Officer and Cancelliere said he is grateful to be able to help people in Massachusetts who are going through crisis and helping them overcome hardship.
