Mass. National Guard Veterans

SAVE THE DATE

*** 20 AUGUST 2022 - Birdies for the Brave - Project New Hope Golf Tournament, TBD

*** 25 AUGUST 2022 - Sierra Taxiway Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - TBD, Barnes ANG Base

*** 7 SEPTEMBER 2022 - Hanscom Air Force Birthday Ball - TBD, Hanscom AFB

*** 9 SEPTEMBER 2022 - BG Mark Merlino Retirement Golf Outing in Memory of BG (MA) Brett Conaway - 0900 hrs., Red Tail Golf Course, Devens, MA

* Venmo @Mark-Merlino-4 to register and donate.

*** 9 SEPTEMBER 2022 - BG Mark Merlino Retirement Ceremony- 1700 hrs., Concord Armory, Concord, MA

*** 10 SEPTEMBER 2022 - Brig. Gen. Pete Green Retirement Ceremony- 1600 hrs., Barnes ANG Base

*** 11 SEPTEMBER 2022 - 9-11 Service Project to Support Our Troops & Military Families - 1200 hrs., Mothers' Walk of the Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston, MA

*** 17 SEPTEMBER 2022 - Air Force Birthday, TBD

*** 17 SEPTEMBER 2022 - 211th Military Police Battalion Ball - TBD, Double Tree Hotel, Danvers, MA

*** 1 OCTOBER 2022 - 272 Chemical Company Deployment Ceremony - TBD

*** 15 OCTOBER 2022 - GWOT Memorial Bridge Dedication - 1000 hrs., 25 Green St. Ipswich, MA

*** 16 OCTOBER 2022 - "President's Own" Marine Corps Band Concert - 1500 hrs., Symphony Hall, 34 Court St., Springfield, MA

*** 22 OCTOBER 2022 - Boston University ROTC Pass-in-Review - 1000 hrs., Boston University, Boston, MA

*** 5 NOVEMBER 2022 - Veteran Suicide Prevention Symposium - 0930 hrs., Narragansett Regional High School, Templeton, MA

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News & Updates

*** Salute to Guard Veterans Serving Veterans ***

We really don't spend enough time celebrating the good stuff that happens in our communities and the veterans who make it happen. This month I'd like to take my editor's space to salute some of the Massachusetts National Guard veterans who continue to serve their fellow veterans. Inevitably I'll overlook someone because none of these folks ever look for publicity or recognition. So, if you know someone who's serving the veteran community, send me a message and we'll give them a shout out in the future. Here's my Honor Roll of Unsung Heroes for August:

Cheryl Poppe - MA Veterans Affairs Secretary

Donnie Jarvis - Veterans' Treatment Court

Jack Hammond - Home Base

Bill Davidson - Home Base

Patrick Smith - Home Base

Dan Arkins - Home Base

Tom Stewart - Project New Hope

Carlos Ramos - Project New Hope

Joe Young - Friends of Templeton Veterans

Sheila Pelletier - Friends of Templeton Veterans

Mike Currie - Friends of Templeton Veterans

John Caplis - Friends of Templeton Veterans

Peter Hill - Natick Elks

*** Legislative Help Always Wanted ***

As veterans and respected members of our local communities, many of us have much more influence and power than we might realize. We can all continue to serve the Massachusetts National Guard and our fellow veterans by lending our voices in support or opposition to legislation that's currently being considered on Beacon Hill. A phone call or e-mail to our State Representatives or State Senators can have tremendous impact, particularly when we identify ourselves as veterans. As uniformed members of the Armed Forces, we were unable to speak out about legislative issues, but as veterans we can, and should, make sure our voices are heard. We all have the power to still serve.

Here are the bills the Guard OPPOSES:

*SB2552/HB4022- An Act protecting the Upper Cape water supply reserve

Issue – H.4022 and S.2552 both discriminate against the DoD by creating separate criteria that only exists on the Massachusetts Military Reservation.*SB2390 * (SD670) - An Act relative to Veterans' Education Tuition System (VETS)

Issue – This bill will create an unaffordable program for the Commonwealth since there are greater than 400,000 individuals that will be eligible for its use.

*HB3676 (HD2953) - An Act relative to reimbursement for annual training for armed forces members

Issue: HB3676 reinstitutes stringent requirements on those employed by the Commonwealth that also service as members of the armed forces.

Here are the bills the Guard SUPPORTS:

* HB3672/SB2396 - An Act relative to the Massachusetts National Guard Family Education Program

Summary - Establishes a new GL 33:137A, establishing and regulating the operation of the Massachusetts National Guard family education program (NGFEP).

* HB3670/SB2462 - An Act relative to establishing the Massachusetts Medal of Fidelity

Summary - Adds new section 67B to GL Chapter 33 establishing a Massachusetts Medal of Fidelity

*SB2559/HB3648 - An Act relative to military spouse-licensure portability, education and enrollment of dependents

Summary - Grants in-state tuition and residency status for the purposes of admission to college students in military families.

*SB2542 (SD2767) - An Act to support military families

Summary - An in-depth and all-inclusive bill providing for changes to licensure

* SB2428/HB3645 - An Act relative to honoring the founding of the United States Army, the United States Air Force, and the National Guard

Summary - Adds three new Sections to GL 6, commemorating: (i) the fourteenth of June as the anniversary of the founding of the United States Army; (ii) the eighteenth of September as the anniversary of the founding of the United States Air Force; and (iii) the thirteenth of December as the anniversary of the founding of the National Guard.

*HB2857/SB1900 - An Act establishing a tax credit for employment of National Guard members

Summary - Establishes an income tax credit (GL 62:6) and a corporate income tax credit (GL 63:38II) for businesses who hire members of the Massachusetts national guard.

(I will try to post a link to more information about these bills. If you are interested in more information, please send a contact message and we'll forward it to you.)

*** CONGRATULATIONS! ***

Congratulations to BG Mark Merlino and BrigGen Pete Green for the successful completion of their long and honorable carrers of service to the Commonwealth and our nation. Job well done!

*** REACH OUT, GIVE BACK, & CONTINUE TO SERVE ***

Montachusett Veterans Outreach Begins First Wednesday Morning Coffee Hours -

MVOC in Gardner, MA offers a drop-in coffee hour on the first Wednesday of each month from 0930 to 1030 hours. The MVOC center is located at 268 Central St., Gardner, MA.

Project New Hope Launches Veterans Coffee Social on Tuesdays -

Project New Hope welcomes all veterans to stop by on Tuesdays from 0930 to 1100 hours for coffee and fellowship with our brothers and sisters. The center is located at 70 James St. #129A, Worcester, MA

Veterans' Coffee Hour on Mondays in Baldwinville - American Legion Post 373 in Baldwinville will host a Coffee Hour every Monday from 0800 to 1000 hours. All veterans are welcome. The post is located at 3 Central St. Baldwinville, MA. (Thank you to CSM (ret) Joe Young.)

Battlegrounds Coffee Company Weekly Veterans Social - Every Tuesday

Drop into Battlegrounds Coffee Company any Tuesday between 0700 and 0900 hrs. for a good cup of coffee and good conversation with fellow veterans. Battlegrounds Coffee is located at 33 Pleasant St., Newburyport, MA.

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Information ITEMS

*** Resources for Veterans ****

*** CALLING ALL RETIRED MASS. NATIONAL GUARDSMEN ***

The Mass. National Guard is continuing to build capacity to provide surge capability to respond to emergency operations. If you haven't already signed up, please complete your registration for the State Retired List. To become a member on the State Retired List you must have retired after 20 or more years from the Massachusetts Army or Air National Guard, have an Honorable Discharge, and your last five (5) years of service must have been in service to the Massachusetts National Guard.

*** Now more than ever we're seeking new members for the State Retired List.

If you're interested in joining, send an e-mail to:

BG (MA) Tom Stewart at

thomas.m.stewart.nfg@army.mil

CSM (ret) Tom Ardita at

thomas.v.ardita.nfg@army.mil

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