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ABOUT TOWN: Stoughton's Veterans Agent Mike Pazyra Becomes President of Statewide Veterans Group

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BIG HONOR FOR STOUGHTON'S MIKE PAZYRA: Stoughton Veterans Agent Mike Pazyra was installed on Wednesday, June 19 as President of the Massachusetts Veterans' Service Officers Association. The festivities were held at the Yarmouth House on Cape Cod. 

Many dignitaries were in the crowd, including Secretary of Veterans Affairs Coleman Nee, State Senator Brian A. Joyce (D-Milton), who presented Pazyra with a Citation from the Senate, and Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo. 

Senator Joyce addressed the crowd and said, "Since Mike took over in Stoughton, services to veterans in the area have grown immensely, even as his pay has decreased." 

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Joyce detailed: "For instance when Mike started the town had eight active state service cases and zero federal cases. At the end of last year, he had 93 active state cases and more than 100 federal cases. In 2004, his office paid out $22,100 in aid for the town’s veterans. Last year, that number was $441,000." 

"He’s the kind of guy that once he puts his mind to something, is unstoppable in his advocacy. So naturally, he’s going to be a good president for your organization," Joyce added.  

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Joyce also told the veteran's agents in the Cape Cod audience, "Honestly, sometimes I feel like the state should be charging Mike rent in my office in Boston for as much as he stops by with information on an amendment or a bill. In the Legislature, we do what we can and try to anticipate and react to the needs of our current and former soldiers. But you’re working with these brave men and women every day. And it is critical that you continue to reach out to us in the Legislature to let us know what hurdles our veterans are facing." 

The Massachusetts Veterans' Service Officers Association is comprised of Veterans' Service Officers (VSO's) and their staffs across the State.  Actually, the term Veterans' Service Officer officially replaced the term Veterans Agent years ago, but old names die hard. In Stoughton, Pazyra is still known as the Veterans Agent. 

Pazyra became a member when he started his job for Stoughton in April, 2005.  

He tells About Town, "I became Secretary/Treasurer [of the Massachusetts Veterans' Service Officers Association] around October 2006 and continued in that role through June 2012, at which time I became the 1st Vice-President of the Association."

Pazyra continued, "Our Association is well regarded at the State House, reflective of the fact that when we have our annual Legislation Luncheon at the State House, the vast majority of Representatives and Senators attend.  In fact, when I'm at the State House on veterans issues, I really don't see Democrats or Republicans, just Americans doing what they can to help those citizens of the Commonwealth who served."  

Pazyra, a Stoughton resident, who lives in town with his wife Cindy, added, "Veteran Service Officers are the link between veterans and their dependents (spouses, children, widows, widowers) and benefits which have been earned by or for them.  We help apply for Federal, State and Local benefits.  Those that need the most help are often the ones that are the hardest to reach.  Suicide among veterans is nothing less that a national tragedy.  Both the State and Federal Governments are heavily involved in this issue. Outreach is critical to the job, as is knowledge and on-going training." 

"Massachusetts is a national leader in providing benefits and services to our veterans and their families because of the strong partnerships we have with federal, state and local resources," said Department of Veterans' Services Secretary Coleman Nee. 

"The municipal service officers and The Massachusetts Veterans Service Officers Association (MVSOA) are critical components of that system and the "first responders" for our veterans in the community," Nee continued.  "Mike has served the Town of Stoughton and his community well over the last seven years and I have every confidence he will bring the same commitment and dedication to leading the MVSOA and I look forward to working with him."

Pazyra said that by law, every community in the Commonwealth with a population over 12,000 is supposed to have a full-time VSO. Those under 12,000 have part-time VSO's.  

While there have always been Districts formed by smaller communities, Regionalization has over the past few years become a bigger issue.  Fortunately, the Secretary of Veterans' Services, Coleman Nee, has established strict guidelines with set staffing requirements.  

"While most communities are in compliance with the law, unfortunately, many are not.  This is an onging issue, the result being that in those communities, the veterans and their families do not get the services they deserve.  Secretary Nee has stated many times the veterans are often punished by geography," Pazyra added. 

Pazyra continued, "VSO's are currently on the path to becoming certified through testing.  A bill to establish this is currently winding its way through the Legislature.  This is projected to help with the aforementioned compliance issue. We generally file State legislation during the legislative cycle, and this year I anticipate the Association filing Federal legislation on at least two issues." 

Pazyra, a Vietnam era veteran, concluded, "Dealing with the Veterans Administration can be difficult.  Cases can take years to get completed.  The priority, until just very recently, was to give priority to OIF/OEF veterans, those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.  This also includes the Gulf War veterans from the first war in that region in 1990-1991.  Next came the WWII and Korean veterans.  Someone thought it might be a good idea to try to get through these claims before the veterans died of old age.  And finally, at the end of the line was everyone else, including the Vietnam vets, who at least were used to being at the end of the line.  As stated, however, the priorities recently changed.  The VA is now trying to finish up all cases over two years old.  They have also developed a new claims process that seems to be speeding the adjudication of cases along."

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