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New vets group serves latest generation

Date: 9/8/2009

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



CHICOPEE -- Marine Corps veterans Kenneth Isaksen of Canton and Dominick King of Worcester are the faces of the latest generation of military veterans. They've taken up a new mission as civilians establishing the Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Veterans of Massachusetts on Beacon Hill.

The organization recently expanded its operation into Western Massachusetts by hosting a fundraiser in Chicopee last month and adding Marine Corps veteran Mark Lourenco of Chicopee as outreach director.

The founders have taken a three-tiered approach to their operation: advocacy for legislation to aid veterans in civilian life; education of the costs associated with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and liaisons for veterans from their base on the fifth floor of the State House.

"We're trying to be the voice of this generation [of veterans]," Isaksen told Reminder Publications. "Whether you wore the uniform in 1950 or in 2009 we have the connection of brothers in arms [but] there's a different [set of] problems that we face, now."

He added that improved body armor and medical technology allow more soldiers than ever to come home physically unscathed or with life-altering disabilities, which create new hardships for vets.

"When you get home, that's when the real battle begins," Lourenco said. "In [the] Vietnam [era] it was a lot easier [for vets] to live but they didn't have the support of people. Right now it is harder to live [even] with the support of people.

"The people that are helping you have no idea what you've been through [but] vets helping vets works out pretty good," he continued.

Lourenco noted that many new veterans are unaware of the numerous services they're entitled to as civilians or even how to contact their local veterans' services representative.

Isaksen said his organization strives to be the link between OIF and OEF veterans and a successful civilian life.

For more information about OIF/OEF Veterans of Massachusetts, contact Isaksen at (617) 372-8200 or Lourenco at (413) 657-9685.

Additional information regarding services, membership or fundraising may also be obtained on the organization's Web site, www.oifoef.org.