Valuable Info On Local Veterans' Services

CARTMELL COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Spring 2012

In This Issue

American Legion to Celebrate New Home

Veterans Services - A Tradition of Support

Help Us Raise Money for the Plymouth VSO Fund

Seminars for Seniors a Success

FAQ: Pre-Planning - Who Should Pre-Plan and Why?

American Legion Post #40 to Celebrate New Home

It's almost two years since Little West Pond rose to dangerous levels during the heavy early spring rains and flooded the American Legion Post #40 building. This year, in mid-June, the new American Legion Post #40 will officially open their brand-new building with two special events.

Commander Peter Blake says," On June 16th, we will host all those who donated so generously to our new building fund. Hundreds of people stepped forward to donate and a 100 or more individuals donated their time and effort. And ... we could not have completed this project without the Executive Board, Officers, and Trustees, who run the American Legion."

The American Legion raised about $150,000 through fundraising events and they were able to obtain an SBA loan for about for an additional $1.3M. The original building was torn down and the new one was moved 80 feet up and away from the water. "We have a new, full basement and the main floor is a bit larger than before with a function room that occupies about one-half the building on the left side," explained the Commander.

"The new function room is ideal for wedding receptions -- there are three large windows with a beautiful view and the room can hold 150 or more comfortably. All you need to do is hire your own caterer! There is members' room with a full bar and a 12' x 30' deck off the back, over- looking the pond. The bathrooms, kitchen, walk-in cooler and storage for the function room are all located in the middle of the building," he added.

The re-dedication of Post #40 will be held on June 23th. Invitees will include town officials and American Legion officers, including State Commander John Lenotte and his staff, the local VFW Commander Owen Hyams, and other American Legion post officers and members.

"The American Legion stands for four key principles," explained Commander Blake. "Veterans, Defense, Youth, and Americanism. No matter what the program, all focus on these four points." American Legion Post #40 sponsors the Boy Scouts and Legion Baseball, provides scholarships to high school graduates, and often raises money for families in distress. They sponsor the Student Trooper Program in which two or three students from Plymouth North and Plymouth South schools go to the state Police Barracks where they participate in a mini-boot camp training. They also sponsor the Girls' State and Boys' State Academic Program for students in Plymouth where they compete in scholastics and leadership activities.

The membership of Post #40 is about 830 Legionnaires, 100 Sons of American Legion, and 225 Auxiliary members. "The American Legion is a great place to come to support the children and veterans in our community," said Commander Blake. "You can socialize with members and their families, but we are really much more than that. We get involved. We stand behind our people throughout thick and thin."

You do not have to be a resident of Plymouth to join American Legion Post #40. Contact Commander Peter Blake for more information. Call 508-295-7554.

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Veterans Services - A Tradition of Support
Support for Veterans has a long history

which began in 1861 during the Civil War.

Under MA General Law Chapter 115, there are guidelines for Veterans assistance - who is qualified for benefits and what those benefits should include. Basically, financial assistance is available to veterans and widows/widowers and dependents who have limited income.

All 351 cities in MA have a Veterans' Service Officer. The program is open to veterans who have served on active duty a minimum of 90 days in war time or 180 days in peacetime. In order to qualify, a veteran must have an Honorable Discharge from service. It is important to note that while income and asset limits apply to the qualification process, ownership of a house and/or a car do not count as assets.

Duxbury Veterans' Service Office
Mike Thorp is the Veterans' Service Officer in Duxbury and in addition to his regular "Chapter 115" duties, he also assists veterans with their Veterans' Administration (VA) Benefits. Mike and all Veterans' Service Officers do not work for the VA, but often help veterans file VA claims forms for benefits or to receive GI Bill benefits, their Welcome Home bonus and assist families to get burial benefits.

Mike speaks frequently at workshops and seminars, having recently been a presenter on Veterans Benefits on April 25th at the Duxbury Senior Center, sponsored by Cartmell Funeral Home. "It is a challenge getting the word out there," said Mike. "Seminars like the one for Cartmell Funeral Home are one way that we can inform veterans and their families about the support available to them in the state."

Another area of support for veterans can be found at MA Career Centers (formerly known as Unemployment Offices). Every MA Career Center has a Veterans' Agent assigned to work with veterans on employment opportunities. They have a vast database available to assist vets, both young and old, and are available to help veterans identify the skills needed for a particular job, to get training at the Career Center, or to write a resume.

Wearing another "hat," Mike Thorpe is coordinating the Memorial Day Parade in Duxbury this year. The Parade is facilitated by the American Legion, but Mike is there organizing activities, making sure the grave wreaths are ordered and put on gravesites, coordinating the high school band, obtaining food and beverages, and coordinating the service at the First Parish Church in Duxbury.

Mike Thorp has been with the Duxbury Veterans' Service Office for 2 ½ years, having served five active duty years and 16 in the reserves for the U.S. Navy. He continues his service as VSO in three locations: Duxbury, Hanover, and Norwell. He can be reached in Duxbury at 781-934-5774, ext 108. The Veterans' Service Office is located in the Duxbury Senior Center.

Plymouth Veterans' Service Office

Roxanne Whitbeck has served as a Veterans' Service Officer for 2½ years, as well, and for two years prior, as an administrative assistant for the VSO. "The Plymouth VSO is a very busy office. We have a population of 56,000 in Plymouth and more than 4,000 veterans. There is definitely a need for a full-time agent. Veterans are coming home now and many need counseling and we are here to provide services to them. Aging veterans, as well - those who served in the Korean and Vietnam wars need medical services," she explained.

About two years ago, an offer of a donation gave Roxanne the idea of creating a special Veterans' Fund to help provide other daily needs that were unavailable. In order to qualify for Chapter 115 benefits, a single veteran can earn no more than $1800 per month; a married veteran can only earn $2400 per month. That calculates to $21,600 and $25,200 per year. "That's not a lot of money," Roxanne said, "and many veterans are just above the cut-off amount and cannot get financial assistance."

When the Serve-Pro Corporation in Wareham offered to make a donation, Roxanne didn't want to turn down the money, but there was no physical fund or process to be able to collect donations and distribute the money to veterans in need. "I created the Veterans' Gift Account to help veterans with daily living expenses, like a one-time fuel assistance. I'll pay an electric bill or one month's rent to help veterans over a rough patch. I'll purchase gift cards for use at a grocery store or gas station," she added.

Now when an organization, like the Plymouth Athletic Club runs a fundraiser and gives us a substantial donation, Roxanne deposits it into the Veterans Gift Account so there is money to help out when needed. Other organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans have made donations because they know the VSO can identify needs and use it appropriately. Individuals have also made donations. "They like the idea that the money will go to veterans in the community - keeping it local is very important. Churches like St. Mary's here in Plymouth make up gift baskets for us to distribute to needy families in the community. It is very rewarding to be able to help. We can't do something huge - but we can make it easier for veterans, even if just for today," Roxanne said.

Roxanne has managed to involve the local schools in raising awareness as well as money for veterans. Every Memorial Day in Plymouth, school children help change out 4,000 to 5,000 flags on veteran's graves. They do it as a community service or as part of a Boy- or Girl Scout project. Roxanne speaks at seminars at Cartmell Funeral Home and at Senior Centers and schools. It is especially important to her that children understand the importance of the veterans in society. Plymouth South High School established Step Up for Veterans as an annual event two years ago - a walkathon with pledges for each mile or step they walk. The money is donated to the Veterans' Service Office for the Veterans Gift Account.

Roxanne Whitbeck also serves as part-time VSO in Plympton, a small community with fewer than 12,000 residents.

Roxanne says, "There is great satisfaction in knowing you've helped several veterans and their families each day. I encourage veterans to call or stop in with their questions and get the help they need to receive the benefits they deserve."

The Plymouth VSO is located at 11 Lincoln Street; the Plympton VSO is at 5 Palmer Road. The phone number for both Veterans' Service Offices is 508-747-1620.

Click For a Cause

Help Raise Money for the
Plymouth VSO Fund

This month we are donating $1 to the Plymouth VSO Veterans' Fund for each visitor to the Cartmell Funeral Home website from May 28th through May 31st.

All you need to do is click here and you will go directly to our website. Check out the General Information section for Frequently Asked Questions and Veterans' Benefits. Or take a moment to complete a short (11-question) survey.

Either way, we'll donate $1 for each and every visitor to our website from May 28th through May 31st.

Seminars for Seniors a Success

On Tuesday, April 24th and Wednesday April 25th information vital to seniors and their families was presented by a panel of experts in Plymouth and Duxbury.

Sponsored by Cartmell Funeral Home, the seminars were held at the Parish Center at St. Bonaventure in Plymouth and at the Duxbury Senior Center.

In Plymouth, Veterans' Services Officer Roxanne Whitbeck and Kathleen M. Mulvey, Esq. and Cartmell funeral directors Kathy Cartmell-Sirrico, John Vincent, and Daniel R. Holland spoke about key issues, including estate planning, asset protection, Veterans' benefits, preplanning funeral expenses and options concerning cremation.

In Duxbury, Michael J. Thorp, Veterans' Service Officer and Peter N. Muncey, Jr., Esq. joined Kathy, John, and Daniel to present at the Senior Center. The presentations were followed by a lively question and answer discussion. Each attendee received a complementary Planning Guide. If you missed the seminar and would like a copy of the free Planning Guide, call 508-746-2162 to request one.

Frequently Asked Questions

"Pre-Planning: Who Should Pre-Plan and Why?"

Pre-planning is the opportunity to ask a funeral director those questions that concern you about planning for a funeral. Here's when you will find out about the services that are available to you and be able to learn about options available with either cremation or burial. This is when you can begin the process of making decisions about the type of funeral service that meshes most closely with your values. During the pre-planning conference, the funeral director will also record your wishes and desires so that this information is readily available for your family when it is needed.

People pre-plan for a variety of reasons. Certainly, funeral planning isn't something people want to think about every day. But, if you put it off, family members may not be prepared, either emotionally or financially, to make the many decisions that must be made.

As part of the arrangement process, the funeral director will help you to think about how best to create a personalized memorial that will hold special meaning to those in attendance.

Pre-planning is often a part of general estate planning, and enables you to set aside appropriate funds in a vehicle that is considered an exempt asset when qualifying for Medicaid. You will also have the opportunity to determine pricing, and to decide whether pre-paying for your arrangements is appropriate for you.

People pre-pay for funerals for a number of reasons: to eliminate the need for family members to come up with the funds at what might be a difficult time; to receive price guarantees when available; to make comfortable payments using payment plans instead of having to pay a lump sum later; to set funds aside when qualifying for Medicaid; and to get a sense of control over an inevitable cost.

One certain benefit of pre-planning is that you can get cost estimates for the funeral you are considering and make any necessary adjustments during a time when you are thinking rationally and not overwhelmed with emotion.

And ... recording one's desires helps to ensure that your wishes will be carried out; and that loved ones are relieved of having to make difficult decisions about what you would have wanted. Pre-arranging allows you to compare services, facilities and prices for different types of funerals, and to choose what is best for you and your family. There are so many options available today, and a funeral director can help you select the service options that will be best suit your budget and needs.

Most importantly, pre-arranging gives you the peace of mind of knowing that you have the information you need, that you have made the necessary information available, and that it is taken care of.

About Cartmell Funeral Home

Now in its third generation, Cartmell Funeral Service is an independent family-owned and operated funeral home. The legacy of care and compassion continues through personal experience and understanding, serving the people of the greater Plymouth area and surrounding communities.

Cartmell Funeral Service, Inc.

Entrusted to the Community for Three Generations