Pembroke: Rep. Keating hosts veterans cookout
By
Trisha McNeilly– September 18, 2011
Sunday afternoon, Congressman Bill Keating hosted a veteran’s cookout on the Pembroke Town Green. South shore veterans organizations were there to inform residents about the benefits available to them, including financial assistance and post-traumatic stress counseling.
Chuck Delaney from The Nathan Hale Foundation in Plymouth described what services they provide for veterans, “We owe a lot to our veterans. As a veteran myself, I rely heavily on organizations like this. Nathan Hale is a non-profit 501-c3 organization. They’re not making any money they’re just providing the services to the veterans from counseling, a food pantry, anything to help a veteran they will do.”
Other organizations like the Massachusetts Military Friends Foundation and the Red Sox/Mass General Home Base Program were in Pembroke,as well. This was Congressman Keating’s second veteran’s cookout; the first was in Hyannis earlier this year.
Though Congressman Keating is not a veteran himself, the subject still hits close to home, My dad and five family members including an uncle who was killed in action. My grandmother was a Gold Star mother and I’ve always been so appreciative of everyone and not just with the veterans themselves but what their families have given. So we’re here to try and support that. It’s something I became aware of as a young child.
He stated that because he’s received great feedback from residents, another cookout will not be far behind.
