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Veterans Services

Hingham Veterans´ Agent

The Town of Hingham's Veteran's Agent is Michael Cunningham. Michael is in the office Monday thru Friday, and may be reached by calling (781) 741-1440 to make an appointment. Should you be in the hall, stop by and visit with Michael. Perhaps you'll be leaving with a new outlook on what benefits the State of Massachusetts will provide you with should you qualify.

Michael will bend over backwards to assist anyone that falls into the category of Veteran, and/or Veteran's spouse & children with such things as education benefits, property tax exemptions, annuities, housing programs, bonuses, burial benefits, and much more!

Veteran´s Benefits Bill of Rights
Education Benefits
Motor Vehicle Benefits

Lets take a look at definitions and who falls into each category.

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, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard of the United States 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 "WAAC" during any of the periods of time described herein or for which such medals described below are awarded.

WORLD WAR I VETERAN

Any person who has:

• Performed such wartime service between April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918 or
• Been awarded the World War 1 Victory Medal or
• Performed such service between March 25, 1917 and August 5, 1917 as a Massachusetts Guardsman

WORLD WAR II VETERAN

Any person who performed wartime service between September 16, 1940 and December 31, 1946, except that for the purposes of M.G.L., C. 31 (see Veteran's Preference, page 12 it shall mean all active service between the dates of Sept.16, 1940 and June 25, 1950).

KOREAN VETERAN

Any person who performed such wartime service between June 25, 1950 and January 31, 1955, both dates inclusive.

VIETNAM VETERAN

• Any person who performed such wartime service during the period commencing August 5, 1964 and ending May 7, 1975, both dates inclusive, or
• Any person who served at least 180 days of active service in the armed forces of the United States during the period between February 1, 1955 and August 4, 1964; provided, however, that for the purposes of the application of the provisions of M.G.L. C. 31 (see Veteran's Preference, page 12), it shall also include all active service between the dates May 7, 1975 and June 4, `976; and provided, further, that any such person who served in said armed forces during said period and was awarded a service-connected disability or a Purple Heart, or who died in said service under conditions other than dishonorable, shall be deemed to be a veteran notwithstanding his/her failure to complete 180 days of active service.

LEBANESE PEACE KEEPING FORCE VETERAN

Any person who performed such wartime service and received a campaign medal for such service during the period commencing August 25, 1982 and ending when the President of the United States shall have withdrawn armed forces from the country of Lebanon.

GRENDA RESCUE MISSION VETERAN

Any person who performed such wartime service and received a campaign medal for such service during the period commencing October 25, 1983 to December 15, 1983, inclusive.

PANAMANIAN INTERVENTION FORCE VETERAN

Any person who performed such wartime service and received a campaign medal for such service during the period commencing December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990, inclusive.

PERSIAN GULF VETERAN

Any person who performed such wartime service during the period commencing August 2, 1990 and ending on a date to be determined by presidential proclamation or executive order and concurrent resolution of the Congress of the United Sates.

MERCHANT MARINE

Any Merchant Marine who performed such wartime service in armed conflict between December, 1941 and August 15, 1945, and who received an honorable discharge from the Army, Navy, or U.S. Coast Guard.

ACTIVE SERVICE IN THE ARMED FORCES

Active service in the armed forces shall not include active duty for training in the army national guard, or air national guard or active duty for training as a reservist in the armed forces of the United States.

ARMED FORCES

Armed forces shall include Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, or 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 provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918.
• Any person who was discharged from the 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.

Lets take time to discuss some of the actual benefits:

Veteran´s Benefits Bill of Rights
Education Benefits
Motor Vehicle Benefits