The Veterans' Services Office (VSO) serves Veterans and their dependents in recognition of their service to our country. Our mission is to ensure Franklin Veterans can access the local, state, and federal benefits available to them. We also strive to foster camaraderie and community engagement among our Veterans. Responsibilities of the VSO include, but are not limited to, dispensing benefits under MGL Chapter ll5, assistance with filing VA claims and applying for VA Health Care, administering the Franklin Municipal Veterans' Assistance Fund and Veterans' Gift Fund, managing the Veterans' Property Tax Work-Off Program, providing information about property tax exemptions for disabled Veterans, and making referrals to community agencies for housing, employment, mental health, eldercare, and transportation services. We work with our Veterans' Council, Town departments, and community partners to host numerous patriotic and social events throughout the year.
As our Veterans and their dependents age, there are more demands for benefits provided by the Commonwealth's Department of Veterans' Services and the U. S. Department of Veterans' Affairs. It is important that Veterans and surviving spouses identify themselves on the town census. This information enables the VSO to identify the number of Veterans living in Franklin and the services available to them. We encourage all Veterans and their surviving spouses to contact the VSO.
The VSO is always willing to attend school events and other community events to speak about Veterans, Veterans' benefits, the military experience or to support a patriotic event. We invite other Veterans to attend such events as well. We also work with Boy and Girl Scout groups and students who are interested in community service projects when Veteran-related projects are available.
Franklin Veterans' Council
Established in 20l5, the Franklin Veterans' Council meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm, at the Franklin Senior Center. Dates, times and meeting locations are posted on the Veterans' Services web page. All Veterans and any Franklin resident or organization interested in Veterans' activities are welcome to attend. This group serves as a communications outlet for Veteran and military- related events and activities in the community as well as an opportunity for Veterans to obtain information about state and federal benefits and changes. The Council is chaired by the VSO.
Veterans Memorial Walkway
Families continue to honor their U.S. Veterans and active duty family members by purchasing engraved bricks for the Memorial Walkway on the Town Common. Bricks are installed on the Walkway prior to Memorial Day and Veterans' Day each year. The administrative processing of the brick orders and installation is handled by the Veterans' Services Office. Brick order forms are available in the Town Hall and Senior Center lobbies and on the Veterans' Services page on the Town website. Thank you to all who have supported this project by honoring their Veteran with an engraved brick. To date, l849 engraved bricks have been purchased and installed on the Veterans Memorial Walkway. Bricks will be sold until all blank bricks on the Walkway have been engraved.
Monument Restoration
Four War Monuments were cleaned and restored this year, including the World War I Monument, the Civil War Statue, the Spanish-American War Monument, and the Persian Gulf War Monument.
Veterans Coffee Socials
Attendance at the monthly Veterans coffee socials continues to grow as an opportunity for Veterans to have a cup of coffee (tea, water, pastries) together and to socialize with other Veterans. The socials are held the first Wednesday of the month at l0:00 a.m. at the Senior Center. The VSO provides updates on benefits and activities and invites guest speakers to discuss Veteran-related topics several times a year. Franklin Veteran Bob Crowley gave a brief discussion about his Honor Flight experience in November. In April, we celebrated the fourth anniversary of our monthly coffee socials. We presented Starbucks' associates with a certificate of appreciation for their ongoing support of Veterans and for catering our coffee socials for the last four years at no charge.
Purple Heart Community
Franklin is a Purple Heart Community. This designation demonstrates that our Town recognizes and honors Franklin service members who received the Purple Heart award for being wounded or killed in enemy combat. Our office has created a registry of Franklin residents who are Purple Heart recipients. We will recognize those recipients each year. In August 2022, l4 Franklin Purple Heart recipients and their families were recognized at the Veterans Coffee Social. Signs have been installed at the Town's entry points, designating Franklin as a Purple Heart Community. If you or a family member from Franklin are a Purple Heart recipient, please contact our office.
Quilt of Valor Awards
Since its inception in 2003, the mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to "cover Service Members and Veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor." To date, over 300,000 quilts have been awarded to Service Members and Veterans nationwide. This past year, Quilts of Valor were awarded to Franklin Veterans living at the Enclave of Franklin Assisted Living Community, Magnolia Heights Independent Living Community, Cedarwood Gardens Health and Rehabilitation Center, and at Veterans' private homes. Thus far, Quilts of Valor have been awarded to 48 Franklin Veterans by the Massachusetts Quilts of Valor State Coordinator Theresa Perreault and her assistants.
Veterans' Day Program
On November 11, 2022, Franklin Elks Lodge #2l36 hosted the annual Veterans' Day Luncheon. With l20 guests in attendance, the featured speaker was Army Veteran and Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient Robert Gardner. American Legion Post 75 Chaplain Robert Markunis offered the invocation. The FHS chorus provided musical interludes during the luncheon and members of the American Legion provided an Honor Guard and posted the colors. VSO Shannon Nisbett made remarks about why we celebrate Veterans' Day and thanked all Veterans in attendance for their service and sacrifices. She highlighted activities and programs supported by American Legion Post 75 and VFW Post 3402 and encouraged attendees to consider joining these organizations to continue the great work they do on behalf of Veterans. Navy Veteran Richard Hynes explained that the POW-MIA table, which was on exhibit, is meant to remind us about those U.S. service members still not accounted for. The luncheon was attended by state and local officials including State Rep. Jeffrey Roy, Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and members of the Franklin Town Council. Chris Flynn, of Franklin TV, videotaped the luncheon which later aired on Franklin's All Access Community TV. Special thanks to the Franklin Elks for the delicious luncheon and for their continued support of Veterans' activities and programs throughout the year.
Memorial Day Breakfast
Sponsored by the Friends of Franklin Elders (FOFE), the annual Memorial Day Breakfast was held on May 26, 2023 at the Senior Center. Students from Tri- County Regional Vocational Technical School's culinary department, under the direction of instructor Nancy Haney, prepared and served the breakfast. Chaplain Bob Markunis of American Legion Post 75 offered the invocation. VSO Shannon Nisbett emceed the event and Veteran Advocate and Community Educator Rose Turco was the featured speaker. Remarks were given by State Rep. Jeff Roy and State Senator Rebecca Rausch. Ernest Carruthers, Quartermaster at the VFW Post 3402, recognized Larry Bederian, the outgoing VFW Commander, and thanked him for his many years of service in that position. The FHS chorus, under the direction of Mary Kate Pezzillo, provided musical interludes and FHS student Brady Devlin performed "Taps" on the bugle. Members of the American Legion Post 75 provided an Honor Guard and posted the colors. Navy Veteran and Memorial Day Parade Co- Chairman Richard Hynes explained the significance of the POW-MIA table, which was on display. Parade Co-Chairman and Navy Veteran Ernest Carruthers provided details about the upcoming parade. Thank you to Kathy and Joe Lesica for making the beautiful table centerpieces and to Chris Flynn of Franklin TV for videotaping the event, the Starbucks East Central Street Team for providing coffee, and all the guest speakers and volunteers who made this event possible.
Parade and Ceremony
The Memorial Day parade was held on May 29, 2023. Franklin resident and Veteran advocate Mark Ellis was selected as the Grand Marshal of this year's parade and made remarks at the ceremony that followed the parade. Along the parade route, local Boy and Girl Scouts placed memorial wreaths (made by the Girl Scouts) at Dean College, Union Street, and St. Mary's cemeteries and at the war memorials on the Plaza. Bands from Franklin High School, Remington, Annie Sullivan and Horace Mann middle schools and Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School marched and played patriotic songs in the parade. American Legion Post 75 provided an Honor Guard and Rifle Team, VFW Post 3402 and Knights of Columbus Council l847 provided Honor Guards, the Franklin Fire Department provided an Honor Guard and fire engines for the parade, and the Franklin Police Department provided a police detail along the parade route. The Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School ROTC, along with instructor Major Travis Bowser of Franklin, marched in the parade as well as local Scout groups. Rev. Dr. Jacob Juncker, Brother Phil Bennallack and Father Brian Manning participated in the presentation of honors at Dean College, Union Street Cemetery and St. Mary's Cemetery along the parade route.
Reverend Doreen Oughton offered the invocation and benediction and Marine Veteran Joe Collins led the Pledge of Allegiance at the Memorial Day ceremony. American Legion Commander John Milot read the names of Franklin Veterans who had passed since last Memorial Day. Outgoing VFW Post 3402 Commander Larry Bederian and incoming Commander Ernest Carruthers, along with Marine Veteran Dawn Anderson, also participated in the Honor Roll presentation at the ceremony. The FHS band, under the direction of Leighann Rudsit, performed the National Anthem, and FHS buglers Brady Devlin and Peter Bryan played "Taps."
Many thanks to Chris Flynn and Chris Leverone of Franklin TV for providing media coverage of our Memorial Day events. Thank you to Allegra Printing for donating the Grand Marshal parade banner again this year.
Special thanks to parade committee members, Lt. Eric Zimmerman of the Franklin Police department, Battalion Chief Tom Carlucci of the Franklin Fire Department, Richard Hynes and Ernest Carruthers, Parade Co-Chairs, Camille Napier Bernstein, Gerry Bradie, Frank Coughlin, John Hefele, Chaplain Bob Markunis, John Milot, Debra Martin, Shannon Nisbett, Rose Turco, Lester Quan and the many volunteers who provided support on Memorial Day. Thank you to our parade drivers, the Franklin Public Works and Facilities departments and the Franklin Garden Club members for their assistance, support and beautification of the Town Common.
Veterans Call
"Veterans Call" is a TV program for and about Veterans hosted by the VSO and airs on Franklin's All Access Community TV station. This year's programs have featured National Service Officers from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services, Matt Ching and Tom Ryan, MA Veterans' Bonus Manager, Steve Croteau, American Legion Post 75 Commander John Milot, and VFW Post 3402 Quartermaster Ernest Carruthers.
Find Veterans Call -> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbAODFjFPJ0wytXIB_AExm_qUn2WyA2nW
Chair of Honor
The Chair of Honor, which commemorates those who served in the U.S. military but have not returned home, resides at the Franklin Senior Center. The empty chair is displayed at the Memorial Day Breakfast and other Veterans' events as a reminder of the service and sacrifices made by prisoners of war or those still missing in action. As of May 2023, there are more than 8l,000 American troops still unaccounted for.
Display Case at the Town Hall
Our office maintains the Veterans' display case in the Town Hall lobby. The displays focus on Veterans' Day, Memorial Day and other Veteran-centric historical events, as well as feature Veterans and Veterans-related projects in our community. The current display highlights the War Monuments Restoration Project on the Town Common.
Other Events and Activities
In August 2022, Elks Lodge #2l36 sponsored a Dinner-Dance fundraiser with all proceeds from ticket sales and raffles going to the War Monuments Restoration Project. Thank you to Mark Ellis and the Elks Lodge #2l36 membership for their ongoing support of Franklin Veterans' activities and events.
On December 9, 2022, our office hosted a resume building workshop with New England Center and Home for Veterans at the Senior Center.
Also in December, our office, along with the help of Franklin Veterans and families, decorated a Veterans' Holiday Tree for the Senior Center's first annual Winter Wonderland event. Our beautiful live tree was raffled off and was won by a Franklin Veteran.
On February 8, 2023, we hosted a Greater Franklin Virtual Career Fair for Veterans with the MassHire Department of Career Services.
A new Veterans Tax Work-Off program was established in 2022. Like the Senior Tax Work-Off program, Franklin military Veterans (or their surviving spouse) can "work-off" up to $l,500 of their annual real estate tax bill by volunteering their services in a Town department in exchange for an abatement on their property taxes.
"Tune It Out," our learn-to-play-guitar program for Veterans, began in July 202l. Research suggests that active music engagement reduces anxiety, increases relaxation levels and improves overall well-being.
There are currently 15 learners and four volunteer instructors who meet at the Senior Center on Tuesdays from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. In September 2022, we hosted an Open House to introduce Veterans to the guitar program and in June 2023, we hosted a guitar class pizza party to show our appreciation for the volunteer instructors. We are grateful for the generous donations of guitars and funds we have received from members of the community in support of this program. Veterans may call the VSO to sign up for classes.
We are continuing our Buddy Check program with the help of a Veteran volunteer. With their permission, we call Veterans and Veterans' widows or widowers either weekly or monthly to check in on them and ask if we can be of any help. Many of our Veterans live alone and appreciate hearing a friendly voice on the phone. Please contact our office if you are a Veteran who would like to be included in our Buddy Check program
Community Support
Veterans' Services thanks these faithful supporters:
The Friends of Franklin Elders (FOFE) for their sponsorship and support of Veterans' events.
The Franklin Senior Center staff for their daily support of the Veterans' Services Office.
The many departments in the Town of Franklin that support our Veterans' programs. It takes a team effort to accomplish all that we do.
Franklin Elks Lodge #2l36 for their continued support of Franklin Veterans including the sponsorship of the Veterans' Day Luncheon and the Veterans' fuel assistance program. In addition to fundraisers, Elks Lodge #2l36 conducts activities during the year that support Veterans in local VA medical centers and other facilities.
American Legion Edward L. Grant Post 75 Commander John Milot and Legion members for their support of local Veterans, their leadership in our Veterans' Day and Memorial Day events, and for volunteering their time to spruce up Veterans' gravesites at St. Mary's cemetery, led by John Hefele.
VFW Post 3402 and newly appointed Post Commander Ernest Carruthers for co-chairing the 2023 Memorial Day Parade, hosting the parade committee luncheon following the Memorial Day Parade, and their ongoing support and commitment to Franklin's Veterans and Veterans-related events.
Starbucks, East Central Street, for generously catering our monthly Coffee Socials and other Veterans' events.
Franklin Matters, Franklin Observer and Franklin Local Town News for their coverage of Franklin Veterans' events and activities.
The Franklin Garden Club for the beautification, care and maintenance of the Veterans' Memorial on the Town Common.
Community volunteers, including Boy and Girl Scouts, who assist our office with activities and events throughout the year.
Franklin Public Schools' Music department for their talent and support at various Veterans' events.
The citizens of Franklin for their support of our Veterans and active duty service members.
If you are a Veteran or a family member of a Veteran and have a question or need any assistance, please contact our office.
Although, federal and state definitions of Veterans are very specific as to time and component served for qualification for benefits, I hold to this definition of a Veteran:
A Veteran is someone - whether active duty, retired, National Guard or Reserve, served one day or twenty years - who at one point in their life wrote a blank check made payable to the Government of the United States of America for an amount of "up to and including my life."
Thank you for your service.
I am honored to serve Franklin's Veterans and their families.
Respectfully submitted,
Shannon Nisbett
Veterans' Service Officer
The full Town of Franklin FY 2023 Annual Report can be found online
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| Annual Report Of The Veterans' Services Office: FY 2023 Report |
