VSO Talk Radio

Ludlow will be Celebrating its 250th and we had Linda Collette and Bruce Durand to talk about the celebration and all the events coming up!  

A momentous day this past week with the groundbreaking of the future soldiers home in holyoke. We discuss the past, present, and future of the home.  

This week we talked about the PACT Act, as the deadline for retroactive payment come to an end,  what you need to know.  Note: PACT ACT intent to file was extended to Monday, August 14th.  

This week’s show we spoke with Christian Diluzio of Veterans Inc.  He shares with us all the available programs and services.  

This week we interviewed Donna Salo, one of the co-founder of the Veterans Dragon Boat, USA Team & Stan Hilton who is currently a member of the Veterans dragon boat team

Western Mass Veterans radio on Classic Hits 977 with Jesus Pereira, @Holyoke veterans services Jered Sasen,  Wilbraham Veteran Services and Eric Segundo, Ludlow Veterans Services.   This week’s in studio guest is Amanda Winslow, Sexual Assault and Victim Advocate for Western MA, for the Department of Defense. John Hurley’s Veteran history project, John interviewed Dick Brodeur, USMC Veteran. If yo...

This week on Western Mass Veterans Radio on Classic Hits 977: With the new fiscal year come with it the start of the new filing year.  Property Tax Exemption applications are now available in your local city/town assessor’s office.   New VA Benefits Verification Letter were sent out in late June, you should have received them already.   John Hurley’s Veteran of the Week is Archie Archible, US Mari...

Operation Veteran Vacation is a non-profit charity dedicated to providing veterans and their families with a much-needed break from the everyday. We believe that the best way to help veterans come to terms with the physical and mental trauma of their service is to spend quality time with their loved ones. 

Tina Marie from CapTel joins us to take about CapTel Telephones.  Ideal for people with some degree of hearing loss, the Captioned Telephone, or CapTel, works like any other telephone with one important addition: It displays every word the caller says throughout the conversation. CapTel phone users can listen to the caller, and can also read the written captions in the CapTel’s bright display wind...

The mission of HomeFront Strong, formerly known as the Brookfield Institute, is to build resilience in veterans and military families through targeted programs and resources. Their vision is to ensure every military and veteran family has the necessary support to achieve optimal social, spiritual, physical and mental health for joyful, meaningful lives.

•BACKGROUND ON HOW THE TREATMENT COURT STARTED • WHAT IS THE PROGRAM ABOUT •WHO DOES IT BENEFITS •WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM •HOW HAS THE PROGRAM DEVELOP OVER THE YEARS HOW YOU CAN HELP (MENTORSHIP PROGRAM) 

Non Service Connected Disability Pension is a benefit paid to wartime veterans with limited income who are no longer able to work. Survivors Pension is a tax-free benefit payable by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to a low-income, un-remarried surviving spouse and unmarried dependent child(ren) of a deceased wartime Veteran.

Special in studio Guest:  Earl Bonett from Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is the lead U.S. Defense Department program promoting cooperation and understanding between civilian employers and their National Guard and Reserve employees.

If you’re the surviving spouse, child, or parent of a service member who died in the line of duty, or the survivor of a Veteran who died from a service-related injury or illness, you may be able to get a tax-free monetary benefit called VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC). Find out if you can get VA benefits or compensation.

VA Claim process from Start to Finish

This week we discuss the New Pact Act and the benefits associated with it.  

Supportive services and programs available for homeless Veterans

THIS WEEK WE CONTINUED THE DISCUSSION ON SERVICES Available FOR OUR ELDERLY VETERANS  POPULATION, specifically provided by the VA.  As Veterans needs change with age, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will provide benefits and services that  address a variety of issues.  Elderly Veterans may be eligible for a wide-variety of benefits available to all U.S. military Veterans.  Elderly Veterans...

PGA HOPE—Helping Our Patriots Everywhere—is introducing and teaching golf to Veterans and active duty military to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. PGA HOPE is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America. The program introduces the game of golf through a developmental 6-8 week curriculum, led by PGA Profession...

This week we talked with our expert VSO, Rick Voutour, Director of Veterans Services for Leominster, Lancaster and Sterling and we are talking about the VA Aid & Attendance Program.  What is A & A, Who is eligible, and how do you apply.  Each Week we bring you the stories of Veterans in our community as a way to highlight their service to country and the community. This segment is called “...

When you apply for VA Health Care, the VA assigns you (the Veteran) into priority groups between 1-8.  This system helps to make sure that Veterans who need care right away can get signed up quickly. It also helps to make sure they can provide high quality care to all Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. We break down the eligibility and benefits for each group.    Each Week we bring y...

We discussed newly introduced federal legislation in support of veterans and their families.  Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding VA Benefits Act, known as the GUARD VA Benefits Act Major Richard Star Act Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act Caring for Survivors Act of 2023 Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act

Guest: Bruce Stebbins, Commissioner,  Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission  We discussed veterans  from the cannabis industry perspective? What opportunities are there for veterans to participate in the legal cannabis industry? How else is the Commission and regulated cannabis industry supporting veterans in Massachusetts? We also discussed Federal Legislation recently introduced in regards t...

This week we discuss homeless housing support options available for veterans 

VA education benefits help Veterans, service members, and their qualified family members with needs like paying college tuition, finding the right school or training program, and getting career counseling.