ATHOL — State Veterans Services Secretary Francisco Urena stopped by Quabbin Valley Healthcare Thursday, thanking the long-term care facility for the care it provides the veterans among its residents and praising the Veterans Auxiliary created at Quabbin Valley nearly 30 years ago. This visit was arranged by state Rep. Susannah Whipps (I-Athol).
“I want to thank the leadership of Quabbin Valley Healthcare for facilitating not only this visit, but the ability to meet here once a month,” Urena told Auxiliary members. “I understand that you all do that, with the exception of the summer months. It’s important they provide this space, but more importantly, it’s the opportunity for conversation and companionship that it provides not only to the veterans, but to the families of veterans; a very important sector of our population who has served, who has a shared experience — at whatever age, or connection, or time frame.
“Across Massachusetts, we have 350,000 veterans, thereabouts, plus their families. Some of those families are Gold Star families who, as you know, have lost a loved one in service to our country. We do have a very unique, diverse, and important network, which is that of our Veterans’ Services officers. They provide, in a very unique way, the safety-net programs that come out of those offices. In every city and town, a veteran serves as a Veterans’ Services officer.
Urena pointed out that more women are serving as Veterans’ Services officers across the Commonwealth.
“It’s a great, very caring network and resource,” the Secretary continued, “not only for the safety-net programs, but a resource when you may find yourself with a door to be able to knock on. We’re so very pleased that each and every day we have the opportunity to serve — in ways that our neighboring states often envy. Throughout the year, you may find yourself asking how we can do more, or what more can be done, for our population of veterans. That conversation often starts locally with our Veterans’ Services officer.”
Veteran Peter Newman of Royalston, Senior Vice Commander for American Legion E.H. Phillips Post 102 in Athol, who is also in charge of post recruitment, asked Urena for advice on identifying potential new members.
“Our biggest problem now, with the Privacy of Information Act,” said Newman, “is getting members who have since been discharged — getting their names, phone numbers, or any information — so we could personally contact them. Because of the privacy act, (Athol Veterans’ Services Director) Sarah Custer said she cannot help me in any way. There’s very little way we can contact them unless they contact us.”
Urena suggesting sending care packages or thank-you notes to troops currently in service.
“Maybe you can find local families who may be willing to share that information, and then you keep that in a report,” he said.
Urena also encouraged veterans to relate their experiences to others, whether they do so by making an audio recording, speaking with family members, talking to local public access television, or simply speaking with fellow veterans.
“Somebody may not know what it means to be a veteran nowadays when we have the least number of veterans our country has ever had,” he said. “The large divide between those who have served in the military and those who haven’t. Sharing your stories is important, whether you’re a member of the Greatest Generation (of World War II) or those who went to Vietnam; perhaps the most honorable generation, but the least honored.”
Urena, who was born in the Dominican Republican, served in the U.S. Marines from 1998 to 2006. After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, he was stationed as a security guard at the U.S. embassies in Syria and Kyrgyzstan. A Purple Heart recipient, Urena was wounded while serving as a tank commander in Iraq’s al Anbar Governorate during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Since his discharge from the military, he has served as the Director of Veterans’ Services in Lawrence, and then for the City of Boston. He was tapped by newly-inaugurated Gov. Charlie Baker in January 2015 to serve as state Secretary of Veterans’ Services.