Lightfoot named to Advisory Council on Veterans' Services

Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray named members to the Governor's Advisory council on Veterans' Services Friday, June 29, which included local veterans' representative Leslie Lightfoot.

Lightfoot is a resident of Ashburnham. She is the founder and director of the Veteran Hospice Homestead. She is a veteran of the Army Medical Corps., who focused on PTSD and substance abuse treatment for veterans.

Patrick said the advisory council will help guide the administration on how best to assist Massachusetts veterans and their families.

"The Commonwealth is proud of the men and women who answer the call of duty and we have a responsibility to ensure that they and their families receive the services and programs they need," said Patrick. "The members we have appointed to the council reflect a broad cross section of veterans, and I look forward to their assistance in helping us understand and respond to the immediate needs of our veterans of all wars."

The Governor's Advisory Council was created by executive order in April and is meant to review and assess state and federal statutes and programs relating to veterans and the delivery of services to veterans, including health care, education, housing, outreach, training and retraining. Council members represent numerous organizations serving veterans in Massachusetts, including the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, Gold Star Mothers, Gold Star Wives, Marine Corps League, United Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, providers of veterans homelessness services, providers of veterans outreach services, veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Veterans Benefits Clearinghouse, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Veterans Service Officers.

The council is chaired by Murray and will work closely with the Department of Veterans' Services. The Council held its first meeting Monday, July 2.