Melrose Veterans Advisory Board

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Current Board Members

Chairman
Robert Driscoll, U.S. Air Force
VeteransAdvisoryboard@cityofmelrose.org

Appointed Members
Jeff Ugino, U.S. Army
Michael Galvin, U.S. Army
Jim Keane, U.S. Navy
Anthony Gilardi, U.S. Army
Anne Hackett
Marie Ryan
Daniel O’Shea, USMC
James Kelly, U.S. Air Force
Michael Batchelder, U.S. Army
Michael Buggy, U.S. Army
Lisa Lord
Charles Pina, U.S. Army

Statutory Members
VSO Ryan McLane, U.S. Army
VSO Alicia M Reddin, U.S. Navy

See the original board!

Mission

The Melrose Veterans Advisory Board was established by 
Mayor Rob Dolan in 2005. The board held its first meeting on October 6, 2005 and is charged with providing recommendations to the Mayor.

The board exists to bring accountability to city veteran policy and procedures - helping to plan veterans events and establish veteran programs that honor the more than 1400 veterans that live in Melrose. It meets the third Tuesday of every month (excludes Jan, Aug and Dec).

The Melrose Veterans Services Advisory Board has been instrumental in the following recent veteran accomplishments:

• Planning the proposed restoration for the City’s World War I Memorial at The Knoll
• Fund-raising and logistics for Operation Resolve and Operation Thank You Washington DC trips
• Planning and logistics for the Memorial Day Parade, Veterans’ Day events, and other events that honor our city’s veterans;
• Holding numerous fairs and activities to promote veteran employment, especially for our recently returned veterans;
• Working with Alderman Frank Wright to pass and promote the Veterans Volunteer Tax Work-Off Program
• Assisting in the passage of local legislation offering property tax relief to soldiers deployed in support of overseas operations;
• Fund-raising and awareness for the local veterans’ relief fund, Wounded Warrior Project and care packages for deployed soldiers
• Bi-annual food drives to support local food pantries that provide for veterans in need of assistance