mitt
romney
governor
|
kerry
healey
lieutenant governor |
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 28,
2004 |
CONTACT:
Shawn Feddeman
Nicole St. Peter
(617) 725-4025
|
ROMNEY
MARKS MEMORIAL DAY BY HONORING VETERANS
Signs
Legislation to Make Peacetime Vets Eligible for State Benefits
On the eve of
Memorial Day weekend, Governor Mitt Romney today recognized the
contributions of peacetime military veterans by signing into law a
measure that extends to them the full recognition and benefits they had
previously been denied.
Romney noted that Massachusetts veterans who served during peacetime
have not received the same state benefits conferred upon patriots who
served during periods of war. This new law will make approximately
54,000 soldiers, who were primarily enlisted between the Vietnam and
Persian Gulf Wars, eligible for a variety of state benefits, including
housing assistance, employment and education benefits and real estate,
auto excise and sales tax abatements.
“It is time to acknowledge the extraordinary sacrifice of all of
our veterans,” Romney said. “While many Massachusetts soldiers
served our nation in a period technically dubbed ‘peacetime,’ they
restored American pride in the wake of Vietnam and helped bring a
successful end to the Cold War.”
He added, “The service of these men and women was not without cost.
There are countless stories of soldiers who served with great
distinction only to be denied veteran status after returning home.”
Until the passage of this law, only veterans who had served at least
one day of active duty during wartime were eligible for state benefits.
Now, that status will be extended to peacetime veterans, with 180 days
of active duty, who were honorably discharged from the Army, Navy,
Marines, Air Force or Coast Guard.
“Peacetime veterans are the men and women who, in fact, won the
Cold War, yet for too long were relegated to second-class status among
their peers,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Medal of Honor
recipient Tom Kelley.
Also eligible for state benefits are:
· Peacetime veterans with
fewer than 180 days active duty who were awarded service-connected
disabilities;
· Full-time National Guard
members with 90 days of active service and at least one day of wartime
service; and
· American Merchant
Marines who served in armed conflict between December 7, 1941 and
December 31, 1946.
“Every man and woman who volunteered to serve this country should
be treated with the same degree of respect, gratitude and dignity,”
said Romney.
Romney also signed into law today a bill that expands the crime of
destroying or defacing a veteran’s grave marker, metal plaque or flag
to include a veterans flag holder that commemorates a particular war
conflict or period of service. |
Boston, MA 02133