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Veterans' Council

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Committees: Veterans' Council

Hingham Veterans' Council

The Hingham Veterans' Council is composed of thirteen volunteer members, with the Veterans' Agent serving as Chairman.

The purpose of the Council under Massachusetts General Law c.115 is:

• To provide support to all Hingham Veterans and the Hingham Director of Veterans' Services
• To serve as a liaison between Hingham Veterans and the Hingham Board of Selectmen, Trustees of the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall, and all other Town of Hingham departments, boards, and committees
• To promote the recognition and observance of all patriotic holidays to include, but not limited to: Memorial Day, Flag Day, the Fourth of July, and Veterans' Day
• To foster an understanding and appreciation within the Town of the achievements, contributions, and sacrifices Veterans have made to the Community, State and Nation

The current Commanders of the American Legion and V.F.W. are automatic members. The remaining eleven members are appointed by the Board of Selectmen. Eight of the appointed members shall be Veterans as defined by the Commonwealth.

The current Veterans' Council membership is as follows:

2012 Annual Report

The Department of Veterans' Services is responsible for administering benefits to qualifying veterans and their dependents under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 115. This year, the Department oversaw a 52% increase in administered benefits. This increase has enabled over three dozen eligible veterans and their dependents to live in dignity and with appropriate medical support.

The Department is also charged with the responsibility for arranging and managing the Town's military-related ceremonies throughout the year. The month of May proved to be especially busy for our office. Hingham Police Officer, John Marquardt, a Purple Heart recipient, was welcomed home from Operation Enduring Freedom with great fanfare. Seventeen sailors, who perished during an explosion onboard the USS YF-415 in 1944, were finally honored with a dedication ceremony; their memorial stone was unveiled at the former site of the U.S. Naval Ammunitions Depot (Bare Cove Park). The Fort Hill Street veterans' supportive-housing project was dedicated to honor deceased U.S. Navy Commander Paul F. Anderson. Our Department has worked closely with Father Bill's /Mainspring to settle five veterans into Anderson House and call the Town of Hingham their new home. Our Memorial Day observance, held at the Matthew Hawkes Square, featured speaker Colonel Frank Curtis, United States Army Reserve, a two-tour veteran of the Iraq War. On June 14, our Flag Day celebration was held in honor of Seaman Linzee Hooper, USCG, killed in the line of duty during World War II. After 67 years, this 19-year-old—who made the ultimate sacrifice—was honored with the proper marking of his gravesite. Annually on the third Friday of September a candlelight vigil is held at the POW/MIA Memorial on the Harbor. This year marked the 141st birthday of Hingham's only Medal of Honor recipient, Seaman Herbert Lewis Foss. On October 12, a wreath was laid at his gravesite in the Fort Hill Cemetery with full military honors. Colonel Janet L. Thompson, United States Army Nurse Corps, (Ret.), was the featured speaker for the Veterans' Day ceremony at Town Hall. During our Veteran's Day celebration, two of Hingham's veterans were awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary medal—58 years after it was earned during the presidency of John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

The Inter-Municipal Agreement signed with the Town of Scituate in January 2012 was not renewed in June. The scheduled review of the Agreement surfaced the need for a full-time Veterans' Services Officer in Scituate in light of the 125% growth in Scituate's client base effected through Hingham's support. Scituate's positive experience working with Hingham resulted in a request from the Town of Cohasset to provide similar part-time Hingham support for Cohasset veterans. As of November 1, 2012, this office has afforded nine Cohasset veterans and their dependents the service and support which they have earned. The Town's Veterans In Need Fund—funded through contributions accompanying annual excise and quarterly property tax payments—ended calendar 2012 with $5,720 on hand. As intended, distributions from this Fund have been used to provide emergency shelter, heating, medical, and sustenance support to qualifying veterans in need as recommended by the Veterans' Services Officer and approved by the Town's appointed Veterans' Council.

The Veterans' Council also sponsored two warrant articles at Annual Town Meeting 2012. Property tax exemptions for mobilized reservists and motor-vehicle excise tax exemptions for former POW's were unanimously authorized by Town Meeting.

The Department wishes to thank the Board of Selectmen, the Town Administrator, the Town Accountant, Town committee members and all the Town's citizens who have provided such strong support to our veterans and their dependents throughout the year.

Respectfully submitted, Keith A. Jermyn, Director Hingham Veterans' Services