11/17/1982 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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• Nam Vets Association History: Members of the Armed Forces of the United States made great sacri- fices for their country, for their states, and for their communities during the Vietnam war. Their service was honorable and was deserving of recognition, and today their contributions to society are just as worthy. The Nam Vets Association is an organization of, by, and for those Vietnam-era (1960-1975) veterans who live on Cape Cod and the Islands. The main aims of the group are to advocate for veterans' rights and benefits; to provide mutual support and peer counseling to help vets and their families in dealing with the impact of the Vietnam war ex- perience; to counter the negative image that many in the public un- fortunately have had of Vietnam veterans; and to establish a funded Vet Center that would provide various services to veterans in need and would serve as a focal point for the Cape's Vietnam-era veterans (VEVs). The impetus for the Nam Vets Association evolved from the rap groups initially organized by the Brockton Vet Center's Outreach Team that worked on the Cape during July, August, and September of this year. Nearly 40 veterans have participated in the weekly sessions, which are still running, and these vets have felt a Vietnam veteran organ- ization is needed to perform advocacy, support, and service functions • not being performed for veterans in the general community. The two- man Brockton outreach staff helped many Cape Cod Vietnam-era veterans, but the staff's resources were limited, and when the three-month pro- gram ended, many vets had not received the counseling and advocacy they needed. Also, many vets felt a familar feeling-- again they were being forgotten. Two events in September further demonstrated to veterans the need for their own service and advocacy group. A public hearing sponsored by the Massachusetts Special Commission on the Concerns of the Viet- nam Veterans on September 23 in Hyannis was attended by more than 30. vets, and they angrily spoke of the neglect and mistreatment they've encountered in the public since returning from the war. Most also conveyed a series of personal troubles spawned by their Vietnam experience, problems such as the inability to find meaningful and lasting employment and the discomfort of having lingering physical and mental maladies, Less than one week later, over 100 vets at- tended an Agent Orange screening held at the Cape Cod Hospital. This turnout and the hearing attendance vividly showed the concern many Vietnam vets on Cape Cod and the Islands have about Vietnam-related problems, In mid-October, after three organizing meetings among participants from the weekly rap sessions, the name Nam Vets Association was adopted .�. by the group and the aforementioned general goals were agreed upon • by the members. The Association also began holding its meetings