November 3, 2011 - With hundreds of Massachusetts servicemen and women potentially returning home from Iraq before the holidays, state officials are bracing for an influx of veterans in need of support, and Gov. Deval Patrick on Monday said his administration plans to “step up our efforts” to ensure their needs are met.State officials say they are prepared to handle an increased demand for services, and Secretary of Veterans’ Services Coleman Nee said outreach will be essential to make sure veterans know what types of benefits and services are available to them at both the state and federal level.
Earlier this month, President Barack Obama announced an end to military operations in Iraq and the return of combat troops by the end of the year. The withdrawal wraps up a military commitment that began in the spring of 2003.
“We can provide the benefits and the services. We’re set up for it,” Nee told the News Service on Monday. “The lynchpin of this really is the outreach, because when veterans come home the first thing they want to do is see their families. They want to take off their uniform. They want to decompress and relax a little bit, and some of these folks might think they don’t need services right now, but three or four months down the line they might.” read more>>>
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