A message from Commissioner McCosh: Honoring and helping our veterans

A weekly message from Commissioner McCosh in support of the local disability community.

Dear Disability Community Members,

Every year across the country, we honor all those who have served in the United States military in times of peace as well as in times of war. As we get ready to celebrate Veterans Day on Wednesday, I would like to use this opportunity to acknowledge all the veterans who are part of our community, particularly our disabled vets.

It will be said many times this week, but is worth repeating one more time: Thank you for your sacrifice and service to our country.

Our office works closely with Boston’s Office of Veterans Services, which is a great resource for veterans with disabilities along with all other local veterans. This office engages and advocates for Boston veterans and their families by connecting them with the services and resources they've earned through their military service.

I’d like to highlight a new program that is being run by our Veterans Services office, the Pen Pals and Buddies program. This program was created to support veterans during the pandemic mandate of social distancing. It creates a way to pair people or families (buddies) with local veterans who would like to make additional connections with the community. Potential buddies or veterans who are interested in learning more about this opportunity should visit the Veterans Services webpage, or reach out to them at 617-241-8387 or veterans@boston.gov.

As you know, this is an unprecedented time in our City's history. The Boston Office of Veterans Services is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our veterans and their families during COVID-19. They have an extensive network of partners that are all dedicated to making sure our Veterans community is safe, secure and healthy. I encourage our veterans to reach out to them with any questions about your rights or benefits as a US veteran.

In these critical times, please remember to look out for those who are vulnerable, especially older adults, those who have serious chronic medical conditions, and people with disabilities. If you know of any vulnerable veterans who need assistance, please contact us immediately.

If you have questions about the City of Boston's response to COVID-19, please visit the City's coronavirus webpage or call 311. For all emergencies, please call 911.

As always, please feel free to reach out to us if you need assistance. You can dial 311 to reach City Hall or call us at 617-635-3682. Our email is disability@boston.gov and the latest updates are available at Boston.gov.

Until next week, please stay informed, stay safe, and enjoy Veterans Day!!

Sincerely,