Crisco joins retired veterans at Bethany Town Hall to learn about benefits

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr. meets today with retired veterans./ Submitted photo

BETHANY – On a beautiful day in Bethany Town Hall, just days before the start of the Memorial Day weekend, state Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, joined approximately 80 retired veterans and their family members to learn about the variety of state and federal veterans aid programs available to keep them healthy and financially secure.

Today's event was sponsored by the VFW Beletzky-Hoppe Post 2448 and the Bethany Human Resources Department and featured a presentation by Anne James, a Veteran Service Officer with the State of Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs.

“As we approach Memorial Day – a day to remember those who have died in service to our country – we also need to remember the millions of military veterans who are still with us, and their family members, and the debt that we continue to owe them for their service and sacrifice,” Crisco said. 
“State and federal governments have done a very good job of caring for our vets, and they need to be aware of these government programs, how they benefit from them, and how to apply for them. That’s what today is all about.”

“All through the year, we are at senior centers, assisted living facilities, anywhere senior veterans might congregate and ask questions about their benefits. We try to show up wherever we can help, all year long,” James said.

She said the most asked-about veterans benefits usually involve money: “service-connected disability compensation,” where a veteran is paid for any injury, wound or illness caused by their military service, and the “VA pension,” which is a needs-based financial support program for honorably discharged wartime veterans age 65 or older who the VA determines are in need of financial aid.

The State of Connecticut also passed several this year to aid local veterans, including giving veteran-owned small businesses additional bidding preferences under state contracting laws, and doubling the size of the property tax break that towns can give to wartime veterans or their surviving spouses.


This is a press release from Crisco's office.