Veterans Services Director Marc Massey talks to the Town Council about his department and updates so far.
Reminder Publishing screen capture by Tyler Garnet
WEST SPRINGFIELD — During its meeting on Nov. 4, the Town Council met with Veterans Services Director Marc Massey to discuss the department since he took over a few months ago.
Massey is a retired army staff sergeant who did two combat tours before being medically retired in 2010 due to some injuries he endured during those times.
He talked about how his experience within the military has already helped with his new role.
He said, “[I] went through both the military and the VA healthcare system so when I have a veteran come up to me and telling me the obstacles that he’s facing getting a VA claim or just getting a doctor to listen to him. I’m very empathetic to that because of the fact that I’ve been there myself.”
Massey has lived in West Springfield since 2018 and talked highly about the town and his expectations to continue his work there.
“I can honestly say, I’ve been on every single continent in this world except for Antarctica, I have intentions of going to Antarctica. I can truly say that West Springfield is probably one of the best towns that I have ever lived in. I grew up for part of my childhood In the Northampton, Hadley area and almost every single male in my family has served in some capacity,” Massey said.
Besides all the males in his family being in the military, Massey also mentioned his mother was the first female emergency medical director for the army as a civilian in 1989.
When talking about his upbringing leading him to serving and continuing to help veterans, he said, “This is pretty much me, this is what you get every day. I like to say that the one good thing that I got out of being in the army was learning how to be a good [non-commissioned officer] and at the end of the day a good NCO, their job is to mentor and lead. Every single veteran that I have in my file cabinet and in this town now is one of my troops now. Whenever they come up to me and ask me, I will make certain that my office is open for every single veteran that comes in and widow and spouse of a veteran.”
Within the last month, the Veterans Service Department had 102 veterans ‘walk through the door,’ according to Massey. Out of the 102, 18 veterans were seeking assistance with four qualifying for Chapter 115 program benefits and six that filed VA claims.
The Chapter 115 Benefits Program is run by the Massachusetts Department Veterans’ Services. DVS runs the program in partnership with local VSOs.
The program provides financial aid for food, shelter/housing, clothing and medical care to veterans and their dependents who have limited incomes.
Massey also said he looks to continue to work towards gaining accreditation to help with VA claims.
He said, “I have been able to go through the state training to where I now know how to work the databases, I know how to access certain things. I am still working on getting full accreditation on being able to properly file a VA claim, so when I say someone has come in to file a VA claim, at this point it is they’re coming in, we’re discussing, I’m handing them the paperwork, telling them to fill it out and then bring it back and I’m faxing it.”
Once Massey gets accreditation, he will be able to look at somebody’s file and let them know what information is still needed to complete their claim.
Massey has also completed four house calls to veterans which he described as “those are those veterans that for whatever rhyme or reason, whether they’re stuck in their bed due to medical conditions or they just can’t get to town hall, I have had to go to them and quite frankly been glad to go to them and be able to assist them with what we had to do.”
Since Massey took over as VSO, he said he has helped with the planning and running of the Sept. 11 memorial ceremony, the Gold Star mother and family day and the Big E military appreciation day.
He added, “Thankfully my previous job working in Salvation Army basically prepped me for all this stuff and the last 10 years of doing what I’ve been doing has really led me to this point.”
Massey also said he couldn’t currently do what he has been without the help of his staff and the rest of the town employees.
He said, “I have seen so much support here in Town Hall with the employees. I have been able to go down the hallways and ask some of the most obscure questions. The Town Hall has been able to provide me a float staff assistant. Melanie has been instrumental to me to be able to be a success and be able to stand before [the Town Council] and be able to say what I’ve been doing.”
Massey concluded that he plans on giving the Town Council reports “at least once a month” to give updates on upcoming events and other news within his department.
