City of Fall River announces new Fall River Veterans Advisory Committee, distribution of $100,000 to veteran service organizations

(FALL RIVER)- In conjunction with Mayor Paul Coogan and Director of Veterans’ Services, Micaila Britto, the City of Fall River has announced the establishment of the Fall River Veterans Advisory Committee as well as a distribution of $100,000 in funding to 18 veteran service organizations.

According to Mayor Coogan’s spokesperson, the purpose of The City of Fall River Veterans’ Advisory Committee is to promote good understanding and relationship between charted veterans organizations, veterans, their surviving families, and the administration of the City of Fall River.

In addition to the appointed members, the committee comprises of permanent members consisting of the City of Fall River City Administrator, Director of Veterans’ Services Officer, Executive Director of the USS Massachusetts Memorial Association, Inc. (Battleship Cove), and one member of the City Council Veterans Liaison.

The role of a member is to give advice and recommendations to the VSO through participation in the Committee meetings and communications. Each member shall report to the committee whatever veteran-related issues or concerns they become aware of in the City through their relationships with different veterans and veterans organizations. The structure is designed so that the Fall River ’Office of Veterans’ Services may remain constantly apprised and aware of any issues effecting veterans within the community and such issues may be brought before the committee for discussion and possible action. The committee will also assist in the planning of veterans’ related events and observances.

The committee is scheduled to meet every six weeks on an agreed day and time of the majority. Subsequently, the committee may be required to meet before veterans’ related events and observances.

In addition to the announcement of the Fall River Veterans Advisory Committee, the Mayor’s Office and the Office of Veterans’ Services announced the distribution of funds to be given to the Veterans’ Service Organizations which provide services to the City of Fall River’s veteran population. This allotment, totaling $100,000, was sourced from the Office of Veterans Services’ FY 2022 budget and has been distributed to the below listed organizations.

American Legion 314: $5,000.00
American Legion 464: $5,000.00
Am Vets 60: $5,000.00
DAV Chapter 9: $5,000.00
Fall River Young Marines: $5,000.00
Fleet Reserve Branch 72: $5,000.00
FR War Veterans Council: $10,000.00
Italian-American: $5,000.00
Katyn Military Corp: $5,000.00
Lebanese-American: $5,000.00
Marine Corps League 1285: $5,000.00
Polish-American: $5,000.00
Tin Can Sailors: $5,000.00
Veterans’ Kitchen: $10,000.00
VFW 486: $5,000.00
VFW 8500: $5,000.00
Vietnam Veterans Association of Fall River: $5,000.00
Vietnam Veterans of American 207: $5,000.00