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Veterans' ServicesWhitman Town Hall
54 South Avenue
Whitman, MA 02382-0426
Veterans Definition and benefits
Veteran
Any person, male or female:
- Whose last discharge or release from his/her wartime service (defined below) was under honorable conditions and
- Who served in the Army, Marie Corps, Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard of the United State for not less than 90 days active service, at least one day of which was for wartime service, provided that any person who so served in wartime and was awarded a service-connected disability or a Purple Heart, or who died in such service under conditions other than dishonorable, shall be deemed to be a veteran notwithstanding his/her failure to complete 90 days of active service.
Wartime Service
Service performed by a "Spanish War veteran", a World War I veteran", a "World War II veteran", a "Korean veteran", a "Vietnam veteran", a "Lebanese peace keeping force veteran", a "Grenada rescue mission veteran", a "Panamanian intervention force veteran", a "Persian Gulf veteran", or a member of the "WACC" during any of the periods of time described herein. You may call the Veteran's Office (781-618-9750) and you will be given dates for everything listed above.
Merchant Marine
Any Merchant Marine who performed such wartime service in armed conflict between December 7, 1941 and August 15, 1945, and who received an honorable discharge from the Army, Navy, or U.S. Coast Guard.
None of the following shall be deemed to be a veteran:
- Any person, who at the time of entering into the armed forces of the United States, had declared his/her intention to become a subject or citizen of the United States and withdrew his/her intention under the provision of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918.
- Any person who was discharge from said armed forces on his/her own application or solicitation by reason of his/her being an enemy alien.
- Any person who has been proved guilty of willful desertion.
- Any person whose only service in the armed forces of the United States consists of his/her service as a member of the coast guard auxiliary or as a temporary member of the coast guard reserve, or both.
Any person whose last discharge or release from the armed forces is dishonorable.
Education Benefits
Tuition waiver for all Massachusetts veterans to all state colleges and universities Veterans of Massachusetts, as defined by M.G.L. ch. 4, s.7, clause 43, can be eligible for any state-supported course in an undergraduate degree program or certificate program offered by a public college or university. To be eligible, a veteran must also be a legal resident of Massachusetts and he/she must not be in default of any federal student loan. Veterans will be eligible on a space-available basis for a waiver of full or partial tuition based on proper documentation of the eligibility of the veteran. Space availability shall be determined in accordance with normal practices and procedures as published by each institution, i.e., the individual college or university. Contact the Veteran's Representative at the college or university for details.
GI BILL - Click here for the educational seminar 'The insiders guide to using the GI Bill Benefits, presented by: Military.com & St. Leo University, Nov 06.
Public service scholarship programs
M.G.L. ch. 15A,s.16
Scholarships will be awarded to:
Children of POW/MIA, military or service persons missing in action in Southeast Asia whose service was between February 1, 1955 and the termination of the Vietnam campaign; and Children of veterans whose service was credited to the Commonwealth and who were killed in action or otherwise died as a result of such service. Scholarships will be for undergraduate studies at an institution of higher education in the Commonwealth.
Eligible Veterans
All veterans as defined by M.G.L. ch. 4, s. 7:
Children of Deceased Veterans
Remember: Not applying for scholarships is like turning down free money. Get started on your search for scholarships today - visit the Military.com Scholarship
Finder.
http://web50.military.com/cgi-bin/outlog.cgi?url=http%3A//aid.military.com/scholarship/search-for-scholarships.do&code=mrtxt.nl
Auto & Tax infoMotor Vehicle Benefits
Motor vehicle registration exemption for disabled veterans
M.G.L. ch.90, s.2
Motor vehicle registration exemption for ex-prisoners of war
M.G.L. ch.90, s.2
Motor vehicle registration for veteran series license plates
M.G. L. ch.90, s2-includes, Gold Star, Legion of Valor, EX-POW, Purple Heart, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Silver Star & Bronze Star. Also available are Distinctive Military Emblems.
For further information, or an application, Contact the Registry of Motor Vehicles special plates Department (617) 351-9322. Web site http://www.mass.gov/rmv
Sales tax exemption for disabled veterans
Sale of a motor vehicle purchased by and for the use of a person who has suffered loss, or permanent loss of use of, both legs or both arms or one leg and one arm. This exemption shall apply to one motor vehicle only owned and registered for the personal, noncommercial use of such person.
Property Tax Abatements - eligible veterans, spouses, & parents
To qualify, all veterans (and spouses where applicable) must:
- Be legal residents of Massachusetts
- Be occupying the property as his/her domicile on July 1 in the year of application
- Have lived in Massachusetts for at least six months prior to entering the service (spouses exempted) or
- Have lived in Massachusetts for five consecutive years immediately prior to filing for a property tax exemption.
To Apply: Whitman residents contact the Assessors Office, lower level of the Town Hall or call 781-618-9761. Application must be made annually.
Veterans' Bonuses
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts provides a bonus to veterans who were domiciled in Massachusetts immediately prior to entry in the armed forces. In case of the death of a veteran, the spouse and children, mother or father, brother or sister or other dependents of the deceased veteran (in that order) are eligible for a bonus. Eligible Veterans: World War I, World War II, Korean, Vietnam, Persian Gulf Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle, (spouses, children, parents, and siblings). Contact the Whitman Veteran's office for further information or click on: Welcome Home Bonus.
Burial Benefits
Veterans, service members, and dependents are eligible for burial in one of the VA's national cemeteries. The VA Cemetery closest to Whitman is the Bourne National Cemetery. An eligible veteran must have been discharge or separated from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable and have completed the required period of service. In addition to qualified veterans, federal legislation passed in 1992 known as Public Law 102-547, extends eligibility for burial in national cemeteries to persons who have 20 years of service creditable for retired pay as members of reserve components in the armed forces. The law also provides burial flags, and grave markers to veterans with 20 qualified years of service.
Burial in State Veterans' Cemeteries
The Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services and the Massachusetts legislature are currently working on the construction of two (2) state veterans' cemeteries. One site is in Agawam, MA, one is proposed for central Massachusetts. The burial criteria will mirror that for the National Veterans' Cemeteries along with any "home rule" adjustments allowed.
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