Good News for Local Veterans

DeLauro, Mayor Blake to Announce New Veterans Center

Washington, DC—Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) and Milford Mayor Ben Blake will announce the opening of a new veterans center TODAY, June 4 at 1pm. The Third District’s previous center, located in West Haven, had to be closed after Tropical Storm Irene.

I trotted on over to City Hall and saw a small group of snappy looking veterans waiting in "Doughboy Park", looking expectant and very shiny. Lots of small medals in their hats but my cellphone was dead again so I couldn't grab a picture. Remind me to get a new cellphone. And a new camera.

Quite soon the gathering Veterans moved up the City Hall steps, with local press arrayed below, and the Veterans were joined by State Representatives Kim Rose and Paul Davis; Milford Fire Chief Lou LaVecchia; Dept of Veterans' Affairs Commissioner Linda Schwartz; Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and Milford Mayor Ben Blake.

Here is the reason for this gathering:

Milford stepped up (and not just up the City Hall steps) and Mayor Blake arranged to give a room at the Parsons Government Center to replace the offices lost in West Haven. It turns out that Veterans go for assistance within their Congressional District - not being a Vet I didn't know this.

Veterans in the 3rd Congressional District (Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Branford, Derby, Durham, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Middlefield, Middletown, Milford, Naugatuck, New Haven,  North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Prospect, Seymour, Shelton, Stratford, Wallingford, Waterbury, West Haven, and Woodbridge) usually went to West Haven for the Office of Advocacy and Assistance.

When West Haven was wrecked in Hurricane Irene, these Vets had to go to Bridgeport - in the 4th Congressional District - or Newington - in the 1st Congressional District. Not only was this inconvenient, it caused problems having to do with the processing of their benefits and other services.

Soon (not long from now) there will be an office at Parsons Government Center - 70 W. River Street -  which will be open from 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. It will be on the 2nd Floor, easy access for those with disabilities. The Parsons Center is easily accessed from the

Pending phone contact numbers from the Office of Advocacy and Assistance, please check with The CT Dept of Veterans' Affairs for  more information or if you have a need.

For the online brochure from the Office of Advocacy and Assistance: Click Here

Thank you's go to Mayor Blake and our local government and leadership for expediting the access to this location, better serving our local Veterans.