By K.B. Sherman, Contributing Writer
Photo/K.B. Sherman
Region – The towns of Shrewsbury, Westborough, Northborough, and Grafton comprise the Central Massachusetts Veterans District, explained Adam Costello, the newly-appointed veterans’ agent for the area. Adam replaces Richard Perron, a World War II veteran, who passed away in 2013.
An Army veteran, Costello last served as the senior medic with 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Fort Shafter, Hawaii. He served seven years and then returned to Massachusetts.
A native of Worcester, Costello lived for a while in Barre before returning to Worcester and then joining the Army at age 30. Before joining the Army, Costello worked as a purchaser of beauty supplies, a financial advisor, and manager in the retail industry, but he wanted to do more. Upon returning to Massachusetts after Army active duty, Costello and his new wife, Marybeth (Fossey), resided in Worcester before moving to Northborough, where they now live with their three children.
“As a vet I wanted to work with fellow vets but could find only unskilled jobs and I wanted more,” said Costello. “When this job as a veterans’ agent became available I sought it out.”
Costello explained that as a veterans’ agent he works with Massachusetts Veterans Services. Most of his work centers around coordinating assistance to low-income veterans and their families and survivors. The veterans’ agents work to link-up with private organizations for the benefit of veterans. They also work with local schools and organizations such as the Boy Scouts to create more visibility for military families and the veteran community. Costello also helps veterans take advantage of such benefits as the GI Bill, which will pay part of the cost of attending college or trade school.
Other activities in which Costello is involved is working with veterans to get medical help from the Veterans’ Administration and with senior centers to help older vets and their families benefit from such activities as heating assistance during the winter months. He helps vets with their job searches and in general keeps veterans and their families connected to others and to the larger community in which they live.
“It’s hard, sometimes, for a returning veteran in a new town to meet other people with whom they can become friends,” notes Costello. “They don’t have a common experience with non-vets; it’s almost as if there are two different, separate worlds. I try to keep vets involved with their neighbors and towns.” He also works to improve the visibility and image of local veterans’ events.
Costello has both regular office hours and walk-in time, which is especially valuable to veterans with mobility issues. He also has two assistant veterans’ agents, one in Shrewsbury and the other in Westborough. The town veterans’ agencies are funded through the towns’ annual budgets.
“We’re here, interested in working with outside groups, and want vets to know that need is not the only reason to come in and chat. We want vets to keep in contact with one another as well as with their towns and neighbors,” he said.
Call 774- 551-5782 to schedule an appointment or visit http://centralmaveterans.vt-s.net/pages/CMVS_Webdocs/office for more
