Senesi
served the United States in the Vietnam War. He enlisted voluntarily in
1965 and returned home in 1968. He was wounded, and received two Purple
Hearts and a Bronze Star for his service.

That is why it's
hard to think of anyone more qualified than Senesi to be Somerville's
Director of Veteran's Services, an office created in the wake of World
War II to keep returning veterans from standing in welfare lines.

Veteran's
Services cover a wide variety of programs to assist those who have
served our country: everything from widows' pension to health care and
VA benefits.

Most of these vital programs are funded by the
state; the remainder is picked up by the city. The office of Veteran's
Services is one of the only government programs not to experience cuts
due to the recent budget crisis.

Senesi explains that
Veteran's assistance is needed more than ever, because many veterans
are returning home and living with more serious injuries than ever. Had
they sustained such wounds in World War Two, they simply wouldn't have
lived. Recent wars have seen an increase in the number of
double-amputees, spinal cord injuries and Post Traumatic Stress
diagnoses. PTSD was not even medically recognized until ten years after
the Vietnam War.

Many soldiers are doing more tours of duty than
were customary in previous conflicts, due to the shortage of soldiers.
"Some are doing up to five tours," he said.

Senesi is grateful
that veterans have more support coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan
from the American people than they did coming home from Korea and
Vietnam. That, at least, makes his job easier. The GI Bill, which
helped so many WWII veterans, is more extensive now than it has ever
been.

Somerville has always given generously to the country:
over 400 Somerville residents were killed in action in WWII, 31 in
Korea and 33 of the 5800 who served in Vietnam.

The city has
had only one citizen wounded in action in the current wars, despite the
500 serving. Fortunately none have been killed in action.

When
asked why he still lives in Somerville after all these years and after
so many changes in the city, he replies, "We wouldn't want to live
anywhere else. This mayor is doing a fabulous job transforming the
city."

And one of the great traditions of the city is the
Memorial Day Parade. Fundraisers have been able to garner $11,400
dollars for this year's Memorial Day parade, which will be larger than
last year's parade. Senesi hopes to see all of Somerville come out to
see this great yearly event.