Speaker calls for vet housing
Thursday, November 12, 2009
By FRED CONTRADA
fcontrada@repub.com
NORTHAMPTON - The keynote speaker at the city's annual Veterans Day ceremony said the country should build housing so that veterans returning home with disorders won't have to spend future holidays sleeping in the woods and under bridges.
Steven E. Como, the executive vice president of Soldier On, said his organization has already begun that mission by breaking ground on a 39-unit complex in Pittsfield that will be owned and run by the veterans who live there. Soldier On, which operates a homeless shelter for veterans on the grounds of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Leeds, also plans to build veterans' housing on that campus and at the former State Police Training Academy in Agawam, Como said.
A string of onlookers braved the cold wind as they lined the parade route for the annual festivities. The march from Bridge Street Elementary School to Memorial Hall featured the Northampton High School marching band, several Civil War reenactment units and several local veterans who have received the Purple Heart. Fourteen of the 18 Northampton residents who have won the honor attended a breakfast in their honor last Friday at the Senior Center.
Ann Plogger, of Northampton, was among those who felt the turnout on Wednesday was lower than in past years when the Iraq War was at its height.
"I wish more people would attend," she said.
Her husband, Russell Plogger, an Air Force veteran, was thankful for the support, however.
"It's still good for people to show appreciation for the military," he said.
City Council President James M. Dostal read a proclamation honoring Northampton's veterans, and its Purple heart recipients in particular, in place of Mayor Mary Clare Higgins, who could not attend because of a medical appointment. Northampton Veterans Agent Stephen J. Connor told those gathered that the best thing they can do for the veterans they encounter is to thank them for their service.
Como called Northampton one of the best communities he has seen in that regard.
"They have opened their doors to what we do in Leeds," he said, noting that there are currently 131 veterans at the shelter.
"Many, many more veterans are returning with disorders," Como said. "We're going to have to step up and decide how we're going to handle the people coming back and give them what they need."
The key, according to Como, is safe and affordable housing. He said the Pittsfield complex should be ready for occupancy next year. Soldier On has already petitioned the Department of Veterans Affairs for permission to build more housing on eight acres of land at the Leeds medical center. Como said Soldier On is also working on acquiring the former police training academy in Agawam for use as veterans housing.