Let the healing begin with us.
In This Issue

Melrose Veterans Memory Project Sparks Connections Across the Generations

"Miss Lord, did you hear?" "Miss Lord, Irving died over the weekend!" "Wasn't he the guy that stormed Normandy Beach on D-Day?" 

Little did Lisa Lord know when she started the Melrose Veterans Memory Project that she was helping to bring important parts of history alive for students in Melrose. 

Lisa teaches History at Melrose High School and was concerned when the board instituted a curriculum change. She asked herself how she was going to make a study of WWII interesting to today's high school students. Over the summer, Lord talked to a friend who flew P-51's during WWII and asked his advice on making the study interesting. Lisa's friend started telling his stories and gave her his journals to read - she was hooked! And she knew if she was hooked, her students would be, too. 

Veterans in the Classroom 
In 2007, the first Veterans in the Classroom event was held. WWII veterans, WWII civilians, students and advisors were all gathered in a room wherer

World War II veteran Russell Priestley shares his story and photographs with students during the Veterans in the Classroom event.
they could interact with each other. Students were able to ask questions and veterans and civilians were able to share their stories, show artifacts and journals, and answer the students' questions. The young people asked everything from "What did you eat in battle?" to "How did this affect the rest of your life?" 

Lisa realized how successful this program has been when her students were upset at the passing of Irving Smolens last April. They had developed a relationship with Irving and other veterans to the point that these soldiers' stories became a part of them. The students felt ownership and a responsibility to preserve these stories and pass them down to future generations. 

During the past seven years, the numbers for the Veterans in the Classroom Project have grown to over 30 veterans participating. Some of the veterans are even bringing in Powerpoint presentations and video clips to share. There is a true bridging of the gap between generations and both sides of the gap have had preconceived notions that had to be discarded. Older veterans have been surprised at the fact that these young people are truly interested and involved in the classroom project, and the students

Sophomore Jenna listens intently as Vietnam veteran Jim Muschett shares his story.

have had a fascination for what they heard and saw. The project has grown to include soldiers who were in Iraq and Afghanistan to those who have just finished training at Parris Island, a U.S. Marine
Corps training facility where roughly 16,000 Marines pass through boot camp every year. 

Operation Trips 
Middle schoolers began to raise money in the fall of 2012 to take veterans on a trip to see the memorial erected in their honor. They modeled this after the Honor Flight program, but the actual cost of flying is prohibitive so the students pay for a bus trip. The Operation Trips are run out of the Melrose Veterans Affairs office with the leadership of Ryan McLane, Veterans Affairs Officer for Melrose, Saugus and Wakefield, and Bob Driscoll, Advisory Board leader.

Because Vietnam veterans felt unappreciated after coming home to demonstrations and protests, a special effort was made to reach out to these veterans. Through the trip, some have started to

Local veteran Bernie Wideman shows students a picture of the ship he served aboard when he was in the Navy during the 2014 Veterans in the Classroom event.

connected and appreciated. In 2013 a gentleman thought the trip was the next step of his healing process. He sat with group after group of students, incredibly nervous at first, but then settled in and shared his story and his Purple Heart. He believes his healing happened in part because he found a safe place to share his experiences. 

Lisa Lord is incredibly appreciative of the citizens of Melrose. "The Melrose community is a phenomenal supporter of veterans", states Lord. "Veterans feel a sense of love and appreciation in Melrose and I couldn't be happier for them." 

Upcoming Event 
This year's Veterans in the Classroom event will take place on Wednesday, October 28th at Melrose Memorial Hall, 590 Main St, in Melrose. Starting time is still to be determined. If you are a veteran or know a veteran that would like to participate, sign-up can be done by emailing melroseveteransme [email protected]

Other activities include making and sending holiday cards to veterans at the VA and at the Chelsea Soldier's Home. The students also send care packages to deployed men and women, always sending to local soldiers when possible. 

Get Involved! 
For citizens that want to get involved, joining events as participants is at the top of the list. It is of utmost importance for veterans to have support at the events that honor them. If you know a veteran that has not participated in Veterans in the Classroom, you could encourage them to become a part of that important program and share their story. Artifacts that might otherwise be lost can be donated and therefore preserved through this project. 

Keep up with the Melrose Veterans 
Memory Project 
Follow the latest happenings by keeping in touch with the Melrose Veterans Memory Project on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/melrose veteransmemoryproject or on Twitter@ Melrose
VetsProj. 

Two websites are dedicated to this project: www. melrose-veterans-memory-project.org and 
www.melroseveteransmemoryproject.shutterfly.com. Both sites are full of information and photos of a c t invities involving the students and veterans. 

Please remember to tell any veterans you know about the Melrose Veterans Memory Project and make sure to show your appreciation for their service by attending all veterans events in Melrose! 


MVMP students and board members pose with Barbara and Michael Buggy, after their company presented a donation check to cover the cost of MVMP's 501 (c)(3) application fee






Find Help and Hope 
at the Melrose Veterans Affairs Office


Little did Ryan McLane know how describing a grocery store during a conversation with an Afghan national would change the course of his life. A grocery store? What is there to describing a grocery store? It has food and drinks. You make a list. You buy the stuff on the list. You take it home and consume it. End of story. 
Unless..... you're in Afghanistan    


Russell Moulaison, brother of Robert Moulaison of Melrose who was killed in action during the Korean War, helps the city honor and install the first only dedicated Korean War Memorial on Memorial Day, 2015.

In trying to describe what a grocery store is to the Afghan soldier, Ryan could not help this man get past the idea that he was not describing heaven. "I was changed in a deep way by that conversation," remembers Ryan. "I thought it was worth helping those people, and realized I wanted to help people here at home, too." 

McLane has met men and women from all walks of life during his military service, which started in 2003 during his senior year at Stone Hill College in North Easton, MA. "I met soldiers, sailors and airmen from all over these United States, and those men and women chose to serve for hundreds of different reasons." While in Afghanistan, McLane was on a secure airbase when he saw two figures run through the gate. It turned out to be two little girls around the ages of four and six, who were risking their safety to comb through the base's trash for food. When the soldiers realized what they were doing, they loaded them up with good food instead of refuse to take back to their family. Ryan made the connection that he wanted to help back home. Men and women were willing to risk their live so others could have a better life, and he wanted those same men and women to have better lives, too. 

Ryan has been with the Melrose Veteran's Affairs Office as District Director since 2011. His primary job is to provide financial assistance to veterans and their families and widows who live on or near the federal poverty line. He helps them supplement their incomes to improve their quality of life. During the course of the interview for this article, McLane repeatedly stated that he sees himself as an administrator who helps programs move along. He maintains that the community is the driving force behind all that his office does - he just metes out their wishes. His office locates veterans in need of services and runs the programs that the community wants. 

Veterans Mobile Food Market 
The Veterans Mobile Food Market is a major avenue to helping local veterans. This program is responsible for distributing


Students and veterans from the Korean War era take a picture in front of the National Korean War monument in Washington DC as part of Operation Remember. 

food from the Greater Boston Food Bank. Mobile food markets help supplement the food available at local food pantries, allowing families to stretch their monthly food budgets. Many veterans are in need of support during these difficult economic times and this program helps them feed themselves and their families. Any veteran or family member can come to receive food on a monthly basis, including fresh seasonal produce. No proof of income is required - the only requirement to participate is that the recipient is a veteran or family member. 

The Veterans Mobile Food Market is available the third Wednesday of every month. Please call 781-979-4186 to get more information on locations and times. 

Operation Trips 
Operation Trips are a joint effort to allow veterans and a guest to visit the memorial dedicated to the war in which the veteran served. Middle school students in Melrose have been raising funds for these trips since 2012. They are important intergenerational events, remembering generations that have passed and honoring the service and sacrifice of men and women serving n the armed forces. Previous trips include: Operation Resolve (WW2), Operation Thank You (Vietnam War), Operation Gettysburg - allowing modern day veterans to honor Civil War Veterans, and Operation Thank You (Korean War). These trips allow veterans to see the monuments associated with their years of service. 

How Can You Help? 
When asked what kind of volunteer work is needed from the community of Melrose,
McLane responded that while people can always help set up and distribute food for the Veterans Mobile Food Markets, the absolute, single most important thing needed is for community members to attend local veterans events.
Participating in the placing of wreaths on Memorial Day or being part of the crowd

Bags prepared for distribution as part of the Melrose Veteran Mobile Food Market
in dedicating new memorials like the Korean War Memorial that was unveiled this past May is a boon to local veterans. They need to see the appreciation for their years of dedication and service. Veterans tend to wear their uniforms and take great pride in these community events, and unfortunately they can internalize low turnouts. Nobody wants to see that happen. so make sure to come out and show your support! 

If you want further information on veterans services or wish to volunteer, please contact Ryan McLane at 781-979-4186. You can also visit the Melrose Veterans Affairs Office website at www. mwsveteranservices.org. 



Frequently Asked Questions

"Can I Move My Prearrangement From One Funeral Home 
to Another?" 

The simple answer is yes, you may transfer your pre-arrangement to another funeral home any time you wish. Most often, when you pre-arrange and pre-fund a funeral, you feel very sure that your plans won't change. However, sometimes the funeral home you chose changes ownership or the staffing changes; other times your family residence may change, or you develop a relationship with a funeral  home e is never any additional fee for doing this. that you feel more comfortable with. If this is the case, just call the funeral home you prefer and they will help you transfer the account. At Gately Funeral Home we will
review the circumstances with you and help you make the arrangements you prefer. There is never any additional fee for doing this.

 FREE Estate Planning Seminar 
Tuesday, 
October 20th, 2015 - Reserve Your Seat Today! 


Gately Funeral Home invites you to attend a free estate planning seminar on Tuesday, Oct. 20th, at 1:30 p.m. at the Milano Senior Center, 201 W. Foster St., in Melrose. This seminar will present important information for seniors and their families, presented by area experts. 

Estate planning can seem like a complicated topic, but it doesn't have to be. Marie Kirby, Esq., of Waystack and Kirby Law Offices in Melrose, will discuss financial and legal strategies and requirements for effective estate planning and asset protection, including wills, trusts, living wills, and power of attorney documents. Information about accessing Medicaid benefits will also be discussed. 

John Gately, owner and funeral director at Gately Funeral home, will present information on preplanning and personalizing funerals, including cremation options. 

John states, "We are committed to helping educate families on these topics because we have witnessed the difficulties that can occur when people are not prepared." 

Having a good estate plan in place to protect your assets is a gift you can give to your loved ones, as is making your funeral plans in advance. Make sure to get the information you need to do this and get all your questions answered by attending this free seminar. 

 Please call 781-665-1949 to reserve your seat for this free, no-obligation seminar. All attendees will receive a free planning guide. Refreshments will be served. 




Call us to request a free copy of our informative planning guide


LOOKING FORWARD TO 
OUR ANNUAL COAT DRIVE! 


Notice the days getting progressively shorter? Feeling a little nip in the evening air? These are reminders of the changing of the seasons, and at Gately Funeral Home, it reminds us that the time for our annual coat drive is quickly approaching. 

Throughout the months of November and December, Gately Funeral Home encourages area residents to bring their clean, gently-used winter coats to their location at 79 West Foster Street in Melrose. A collection bin is again placed in the lobby past the front doors. "We never fail to be astounded by the generosity of Melrose and the surrounding communities," says John. "It is our privilege to facilitate such good-will to those who need a helping hand this season." 

Coats of all sizes and styles are needed and will be distributed amongst local shelters. What a wonderful way to start out the holiday season, by sharing our good fortune and being a blessing to our neighbors in need.







The laws in Massachusetts that control prepaid funeral contracts purchased through a funeral home are very stringent and are designed to protect the consumer When you make prearrangements and choose to pay for them in advance, any funds used to purchase your prepaid funeral were placed in the hands of a legally approved third party, and the money remains in their care until you cancel the contract or the contract is fulfilled. You should receive paperwork showing exactly where the funds have been deposited on your behalf. Upon death, the funds can only be released to the funeral home that actually performs the funeral services. 

A contract can be easily transferred whenever it needs to be, whether that is before or after a death occurs. If you have questions about doing this, please contact us and we will be able to assist you. "We will make all of the arrangements in order to transfer the contract," assures John Gately. "We handle all the paperwork and make sure that the entire process is smooth and easy." Please feel free to contact John at 781-665-1949 to get more information. 




Since 1889 the firm of Gately Funeral Home has been dedicated to providing the people of Melrose and  
surrounding communities funeral services unsurpassed in quality and caring. We thank you for your  
continuing support.  It is our honor to assist your families in times of need. 
Let the healing begin with us.   

Contact Info

For more information about the articles in this issue of Gately Community Connections or to contribute
to a future issue, contact John Gately at [email protected] or by phone at 781-665-1949.
Gately Funeral Home is located at 79 West Foster Street, Melrose MA 02176.
 


Gately Funeral Home | | [email protected] | http://www.gatelyfuneralhome.com