Editor’s note: The following article about WWII Veteran Hazen Gartley of Houlton was posted on The Royal Canadian Legion website. His son Henry has given us permission to print it here. To see the entire tribute online, go to http://www.legion.ca/article/a-real-life-story-of-the-legion-service-bureau-helping-veterans/.
Hazen Ernest Gartley hails from Watson Settlement, a small town in New Brunswick. When the call to service came to fight in the Second World War, Hazen and his twin brother Henry went to basic training, as all young men were required to do at the time. Unbeknownst to Henry, Hazen later snuck into town and enlisted so his brother would not have to go.
Hazen served honourably as a driver mechanic in the Active Force in World War II throughout England, France, Belgium and Germany from 1941-45.
In a happy turn of events, he found his beautiful bride Irene while overseas in England. As often happens with war brides, Irene preceded Hazen in coming to Canada. Hazen arrived home sometime later to Watson Settlement with just $700 in his pocket saved from his army pay.
Both Hazen and Irene came from poor beginnings, knew how to work hard, save and spend wisely. The two took that $700 to buy a home, a cow Irene named Veronica, and two pigs whose names have been lost over time. From those meager beginnings, Hazen and Irene built a wonderful family.
From the time of his release from the Forces until this past year, Hazen, who now lives in Houlton, was unaware that he might be entitled to care and benefits as a result of his service to Canada. When he moved to the United States in 1958 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen, his family assumed he would no longer be eligible for benefits. It was not until his nephew and niece, Andrew and Louise Bell, thought their “Uncle Hazen” should be getting something for the time he served in WWII, that the family decided to dig a little deeper.
Andrew and Louise contacted their Legion Provincial Command who referred the Veteran’s family to Dominion Command.
Upon review of Hazen’s records and circumstances, Dominion Command Service Officer Roseanna Mandy reached out to Hazen’s son, Henry, and guided him, step by step, through the process of applying for benefits through Veterans Affairs Canada. Henry stated in his email to the Legion that he could not have done it without the Service Bureau’s assistance.
In March of 2015, Hazen and his family received a letter from the Legion with the good news. As Hazen’s son wrote in his email to the Legion:
“We never thought in a million years that Dad would get a monthly disability pension. He was simply amazed when I brought the letter in to him to read. He was so very appreciative and proudly wore the Poppy sticker that came with the letter. I think he read that letter 10 times, as if he couldn’t believe it!
“Dad knew what it was to grow up poor and scrimped and saved his whole life. This extra money is going to be a huge help to him and he is still talking about it.
“I’m sharing this with you to make my father more real to you, so that you can see the person that you have helped, and have made happy. This pension is more than just money, but about some recognition and putting a smile on an old guy’s face on a very dreary March day. He just couldn’t believe it!
“Your work is very much appreciated. Thank you Roseanna, and to everyone in the Legion’s Service Bureau … it meant the world to him.”
Hazen turned 98 on Aug. 12, 2015. We were so pleased to be able to bring a smile to this Veteran’s face by helping him secure the benefits he long deserved. The Legion continues to help all Veterans, including serving and retired military and RCMP members and their families, to get the care and benefits they deserve. Our services are free, and you don’t have to be a member to be helped by the Legion.
Area events honor veterans
A number of events and ceremonies are planned this Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, to honor and remember those who have served. The following are among the activities taking place.
Caribou
The Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery will be the site of a ceremony at 11 a.m. Dale McGlinn will act as emcee, and CPO Carl Smith will present the Loring Job Corps Honor Guard, along with any other organization present, to post the colors.
Col. David Cote, U.S. Air Force, retired, will be the keynote speaker for the event. Tim Hobbs will offer the invocation and benediction. Musical highlights will include Juanita Goetz with the national anthem and “Amazing Grace,” and Fred Ormezzani will play “Taps.”
Additionally, the Legion Riders of Madawaska Post 147 will give a 21-gun salute. Veterans, their families and the general public are invited to attend. Contact Harry C. Hafford at (207) 768-0525 for additional information.
Meanwhile, the Caribou American Legion, Henry B. Pratt Jr. Post 15 will hold an Honor Roll ceremony at the Caribou Fire Department, also at 11 a.m.
Those interested in attending early can enjoy coffee and donuts at the American Legion. Wayne Little, post commander, will be in attendance, as well as First Vice Commander Dana Cyr. Tawny Plourde, President of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 15, will also be present for the ceremony along with various members of the Caribou Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Presque Isle
In Presque Isle, the Hayward-Frazier Post 2599 VFW will hold a memorial service for deceased veterans from 10-11 a.m. at their post home, located at 6 State Rd.
Mars Hill
A Veterans Appreciation Supper will be held in Mars Hill the afternoon and evening of Veterans Day, from 3-8 p.m., at the William Cousins Post 118 American Legion.
The event is intended to show appreciation to veterans and their families, to include active duty and National Guard.
For more information, contact Rod Collins at 551-7222 or via email at rc199@twc.com.Houlton Elks offer free meal for veterans
HOULTON — The Houlton Lodge of Elks will once again host a free dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 6 p.m. for all veterans and spouses. The meal will consist of roast pork, stuffing, potato and all the fixings. There is no cost for the meal.
SACS fall concert honors veterans
DYER BROOK — The Southern Aroostook Community School will hold its fall concert Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. at the SACS multi-purpose room. The grade 6 band, as well as the high school band, solos and ensembles will be featured.
Songs will have a patriotic and military flavor in honor of Veterans Day. Donations will be accepted.
Hire-A-Vet Campaign see early success with 118 employers on board
AUGUSTA — More than 100 employers have committed to hiring veterans at the halfway point of the Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign. The goal of the statewide initiative is to commit at least 100 employers to recruit veterans and with the result of at least 100 veterans hired.
As of Oct. 28, about 118 employers were participating, with 64 veterans having been hired, including the full municipalities of Auburn, Poland, Portland and Scarborough.
“We are pleased with the results so far of the Maine Hire-A Vet Campaign, but we can always do more” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “We want Maine’s employers to fully appreciate the value a veteran can bring to their workforce. Ann and I fully support the Maine Hire-A-Vet campaign. We want our veterans who have given so much to our nation to return home to good-paying careers that take advantage of the skills developed by service in the Armed Forces. Whether you are a veteran or an employer, we urge you to connect with this campaign to reduce veterans’ unemployment.”
The campaign provides support for employers to expand the hiring of veterans, to include a network of state and federal agencies, resources and nonprofits; education on military language and culture; assistance with recruiting, hiring, assimilation and retention; a Veteran Hiring Toolkit and recognition for the hiring and advancement of veterans.
Success Stories
Veterans hired include the story of a homeless veteran with a wife and two young girls, who not long ago were living in a tent. Through the Maine Hire-a-Vet Campaign, he is now working for SME Corp., a construction company in Lewiston, as a metal worker and making $15 per hour. The veteran’s wife is now also working and they look to be able to soon move into an apartment.
SME Corp. regularly hires disabled veterans to give them a chance at a great job, and the Hire-A-Vet Campaign allowed them to connect with a larger veteran population.
Washington-Hancock Community Agency (WHCA), a non-profit Community Action Agency, originally hired a homeless female veteran as a temporary/seasonal intake specialist for the Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The veteran and her two children had relocated to Maine, but when they arrived she couldn’t find work.
Washington-Hancock Community Agency was able to provide temporary financial and case management services through Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs to stabilize their housing situation. “Through the SSVF program we have temporarily housed the veteran and her children while we find her permanent housing and assist her in paying a Security Deposit and up to six months rent to get her stabilized,” said Bobbi Ann Harris, special projects/human resources director for WHCA. “A great example of how connecting several resources can help our veterans!”
By late September the veteran was promoted to a full-time position.
Assistance for Employers
More than 80 Maine Hire-A-Vet employers recently took part in Military Culture 101 training in Augusta and Freeport. The attendees received education on the veterans’ perspective on discipline, loyalty, following orders and giving direction, problem solving and more. They also learned how a veteran’s experience can transition to the workplace.
Veterans’ employment representatives are available throughout the state and can visit employers to assist them in finding qualified veterans and provide information on the benefits of hiring veterans. Employers or veterans can contact campaign coordinator, Lewis Bradford at (207) 561-4051 or lewis.r.bradford@maine.gov for more information. Employers and veterans can also contact their local CareerCenter, a list of CareerCenters is available at http://www.mainecareercenter.com .
The campaign focuses on jobs paying at least a wage of $12 per hour, but all employers with jobs at all pay levels are welcome. Participating employers are not required to hire veterans they interview in order to participate in the campaign.
The Maine Department of Labor and its CareerCenters, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Hero2Hired, Veterans Inc., VA Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment, VA Veterans Homeless Program, VA Office of Rural Health, and the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services are co-sponsoring this campaign. All partners will be focused on recruiting both veterans and employers. Maine CareerCenters are equal opportunity providers. Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request.
Senators urge support for ARCH aid
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Angus King and Jerry Moran (R-KS) have sent a letter to Robert McDonald, secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, urging him to provide support for the crucial Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) program for veterans who live in rural communities.
In the letter, the senators stated, “ARCH provides medical care for veterans living in rural areas or for those who are burdened with long wait times for services. … According to congressionally mandated reports to the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs, more than 90 percent of veterans participating in ARCH are overwhelmingly satisfied with their access to care and the medical services they receive from the participating community providers.”
ARCH ensures that participating veterans, who often have a difficult time accessing care through the regular VA health care system, can receive care closer to where they live. One of the five locations for the pilot program is in Caribou, which has a long-standing partnership with Cary Medical Center.
Without this partnership, veterans in northern Maine would have to travel approximately 600 miles round trip to access care at the Togus VA Hospital in Augusta. This can be especially daunting during Maine’s long, snowy winter months, as Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) member Peter Miesburger of Caribou recently attested.
Miesburger was able to use ARCH for emergency surgery for a broken hip. Had the program not been in place, he would have had to endure a 500-mile round-trip ambulance ride to Togus. The ride would have taken more than eight hours, over bumpy, winter roads, while he was in extreme pain.
Often veterans and their families are forced to stay overnight and miss work as a result of the distance they are forced to travel to receive care. In addition to eliminating long and difficult travel, ARCH has also been extraordinarily successful in reducing wait times for veterans and providing access to care in veterans’ own communities.
Collins recently spoke from the Senate Floor urging her colleagues to support the FY 2016 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, a bipartisan bill that would fund critical programs supporting our nation’s servicemembers and veterans, including the ARCH program. Specifically, the bill contains $270 million in funding for ARCH. In May of this year, with Senator Collins’ support, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed this legislation with a strong, bipartisan vote of 21-9. The legislation is awaiting final passage in the Senate.
King and Collins have written several letters to officials at theU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as to congressional leadership, requesting continued support for the ARCH program. In 2014, they supported legislation that implemented significant reforms at the VAand created the Choice Program, a pilot initiative based in part on the success of ARCH.
