When Mary Pederson came in to work on March 11, she didn’t expect her life to change.
Pederson is a guest services associate at Gillette Stadium, home of the NFL’s New England Patriots.
But that day, the stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, was the site for hundreds of veterans and their families attending the New England Veteran Experience Action Center. VA and other veteran organizations were there to help veterans and their families get one-on-one services.
Pederson is the surviving spouse of an Army helicopter pilot who was wounded during the Vietnam War and passed from his service-connected disability in 2021. When staff at the event got wind of her circumstances and her husband’s service and eligibility, the team took action and started Pederson on the path to receive survivor benefits.
“It will be life-changing for me if I have added income right now,” she said. “I’m going to be 80 in May, and I have two jobs,” she said. “Everything has gone up and I can’t keep up with it. Something like this benefit is going to change my life. I wish there were more events like this so you can have that connection and you know someone is there to listen and help.”
The New England Veteran Experience Action Center, held March 11–12, was modeled after a similar event held last year. This year 823 people attended the event, including veterans, family members, caregivers and survivors; 120 attendees talked with VA about health care eligibility and 58 were enrolled on the spot; 312 attendees received “one-on-one” veterans benefits services, with no one waiting more than 15 minutes; 97 veterans received VA compensation and pension exams on site; 20 veterans who self-reported at risk for homelessness were immediately connected to community services and VA patient advocates; eight veterans in crisis were immediately connected to counselors; and 101 VA IDs were issued and provided that day.
The event lasted two days, due to demand, particularly because so many veterans attended last year. Attendees moved from VA benefits assistance to VA health care offerings, onto a full resource fair that showcased 54 agencies.
Veterans and their families were able to connect directly with 15 VA resources, 14 federal and state programs from Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and 24 Veteran Service Organizations or non-profit agencies that serve the community in ways VA and other government agencies cannot.
Retiring as an E-7, Ross said he used the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston where he earned a degree in business. He’s used VA health care since he got out of the military and is no stranger to VA benefits and services.
“There are just tons of people who were able to help me at this event,” said veteran Donald Gale. “They reconstructed my medical and military records. They’re now completed and part of the VA system because of the help I received here. I’m so thankful because it’s like a completion of my life. I spent so much time in the military, but it didn’t look like it was recognized. Because of the people at this event, I’m confident it is now. I can’t thank everybody enough for helping me do something that’s probably 10 years to try to do, and it was completed in one day.”
VA is hosting these one-on-one events across the country, working with community partners and directly inviting eligible Veterans and their families to attend.
Find an event to attend online.