Servicemembers get "Welcome Home" $1K checks

If Mass is the only state that has done this, we should be proud!!! If the other states do not do this for the servicemen they should be asshamed! Something done right with tax dollars, thanks!

MA is suffering an economic crisis and this is just poor judgment on behalf of our Bozo's elect.

Great idea. A nice showing by the State. Does anybody know if the State of Mass taxes state taxes from Servicemen/women serving overseas?

Does Wilkerson pull the check from her bra?

Mass taxes any person claiming a residence in mass, so if you are stationed in say Nevada but have Ma as your residence you still have to file your income tax return with the state. However the government nor any state can tax the income of any military member while serving in a WAR zone. As for "jeremyperryfranz" until you walk a mile in someone else's boot's, find another waste of tax money to complain about. 177k in the past three years to military members that have served in the war, how about placeing our police on the beat instead of a work zone with there backs to us. That would pay back that money and open jobs for some of our unemployed.

I still feel if you have been deployed more than once (like me and most of my friends) you should be able to recieve the welcome home check more than just the one time.

how do you make sure your soldier gets his?

Isn't the state broke? Where is the money coming from?

Before anyone calls me unpatriotic, anti-soldier, or Anti-American, I have a sister in the ARMY.

I think that this is a wonderful thing. A $1000 is little to pay to those who put their lives on the line everyday not to mention the disruption and distress to their family all for people they don't even know. It is people like our soldiers that continue to allow people like "jeremyperryfranz" to be idiots. I don't live in Mass but I work there and have to pay income taxes there. I am glad to know that my tax dollar is going somewhere good and not in some rich persons already well lined pocket. I have only one question and that is for "jeremyperryfranz" - When was the last time you went out of your way to help a stranger or your fellow countrymen?

I think that it is a GREAT idea! if only we could give them more, and for each time they are sent over as Jmix suggested! I have NO problem with my tax dollars going to this kind of thing!

To jeremyperryfranz just tell me how would spend the 1,000, maybe give it to an alien who sucks out the blood of America. Or maybe you pay for Bin Laden to make a video to tell us how much he hates us. You are a fool. Have you any idea what war is about? My war was Viet Nam I did 3 tours and got woundes four times. I got 300 for my service and I gladly give my 300 to any of these men and women who serve our country. When you seen what war does to a man or women and walked in their boots. Seen men fall around you then you can speak. Your not worth the mud on a Marines boots.

One comment to the boston globe. You are always a Marine. Never an x Marine, or former Marine. or once in the Marine Corps. "Once a Marine always a Marine."

From a Marine. It's our birthday today.
Goodnight to all Marine and may god be withyou. Don't forget we all have a place in heaven. And jesus was a gunny. and screw the B------- who's annoyed about giving vet a grand......

I have proudly served my country for over twenty years and continue to do so to this day. Operation "Just Cause", Desert Shield & Desert Storm, The Cuban / Haitian Refugee Crisis, Somalia, 9/11, Enduring Freedom & Noble Eagle are just a few of the campaigns that I have had the honor of participating in. I've seen death and destruction that no person should ever have to see. However, I chose to protect and defend the Constitution of these United States, as well as, protect your rights as a citizen of these United States. jeremyperryfranz, I ask you, what have you done for our country other than complain? When was the last time you had mortar rounds whizzing by your head or car bombs blowing up around you? You're a typical whiner. If you don't like it here then leave, we are better off without you. Our troops have earned that money. and a lot more!

the state already appropiated the money liz. and doesnt army stand for AINT READY FOR MARINES YET?

So Lets see,
I went to college, graduated and got a job, but my friend joined the army because he couldn't get into college, had a dead end job, and had nothing else going on. There was no patriotic flag waving in the background when he enlisted, just a means to an end. So is it fair that all college grads don't get a check also. And don't give me the b. s. that they are all getting shot at. If you get shot at then you deserve it, but if you only made pancakes and hot dogs forget it!!

Absolutely in favor of this. I always take the opportunity to thank a vet for their service to the nation. (and I'm a vet as well!)

jeremyperryfranz you are a disgusting loser. i am guessing you are the same type of socialist idiot that doesn't see anything wrong with 'spreading the wealth' to fellow losers and layabouts that collect welfare and other forms of public assistance. this is one of the very few things this marxist state does with the ridiculously high level of tax revenue it collects that is commendable.

Soldiers have so little benefits and programs for themselves and their survivors so I am happy to read about this. Don't we all get the calls about firefighter and police families that need our support (don't get me wrong I feel deeply for every family that looses a loved one no matter where and how). But whenever I get such a pledge call I wonder who takes care of the military families.....I am giving my tax dollar gladly for this.

What a crock -- pandering to the lowest common denominator, those violent or stupid enough to go invade a foreign country. How about some payments to those who work to make the world a better place?

What exactly do you do for work I Don't Support The Troops? What have you done to make the world a better place? Just because someone is in the military doesn't make them violent or stupid. This welcome home money goes to national guard troops... ones who have real civilian jobs and give those jobs up for years at a time to defend your right to say things like that. I have no problem with you not supporting the troops but how dare you disrespect them.

i am just absolutely blown away by some of the comments on this. i realize the boston globe is the unofficial newsletter of the western world marxist society, but i am still shocked. shame on me.

fortunately all you socialist losers are also completely spineless and would never state this to a red blooded American's face never mind back it up with any action. enjoy your 15 minutes in the sun and your fleeting obama bucks because reality will return and not a moment too soon.

FIRST~ 3 cheers for the BayState//
1. Retired after 22 years in Marines, HOWEVER, my first 18 years was
in Mass. (Winchester)
2. Hey ! Fair& Eq. # 15: YOU think you should have a check too -
Some may get shot and some don't.... BUT the only SHOT you got
was a shot of liquid of some kind.....
He enlisted-for whatever reason- but, then again | YOU had your
" fun times" > etc < ......etc ETC .......................GET REAL Buddy.
IF I had to have someone with me - have him - not your crybaby body.
I enlisted in 1953 , retired 1975 and still working part-time now.as LEO
One more item: MONGO # 12 = Agree with yours and SEMPER FI........

When I first read it I thought it said $10,000 and I thought that is great.
$1,000 is better than nothing, but it isn't a lot of money. But I agree, pay the people in direct combat, not paper shufflers or support people.

Angela, PLEASE, don't give to solicitors claiming to be firefighters or cops, its a scam.

The people calling, who "claim" to be firefighters, get most of the money.

jeremyperryfranz, pardon my french, but, well, never mind you wouldn't understand since you obviously never served. You are complaining about one grand to a soldier? Really, That is just one hour at the Weston Tolls. Thanks for supporting us. ID-10T

So what about all the other people that do the job they get paid for?

Soldiers get paid. If they go into a war zone, they get combat pay on top of their regular earnings. Uncle Sam picks up their room and board, gives them a clothing allowance, and lifetime health insurance (at the VA Hospitals). Those who do their time get a free college education courtesy of the GI Bill.

Civilians get paid. If they live in a crime-infested area and get shot at on the way to the bus, they still draw their regular earnings. They have to pay rent, buy their own clothes, and feed themselves. If their employers don't pay for insurance, MA law requires everyone be insured, so the civilians have to pay for it out of their own pockets. Those who want to go to college have to pay for it.

So why do soldiers deserve extra money to do the jobs they get paid for?

UMass professors 127,000
Troops that protect them and their socialist agendas 1,000
Ya gotta love it

Dear "I Don't Support the Troops,"
Pray my friend, Pray that troops, or as you call them the "lowest common denominator" ARE THERE to protect you, because otherwise there would be a conga-line of even LOWER denominators smashing your computer over your head right now..

I'm shocked...I figured the Commonwealth of Massachusetts would send our brave servicemen and women a BILL for $1000. That would be typical of this backwards state!

Wow, I hope you people ( "I Don't Support the Troops," "jeremyperryfranz," and "Fair and Equitable" ) are being sarcastic to get a rise out of people, because if you really feel the way you've posted - you are some sad, bitter, little people.

I think your ideas that your fellow citizens became soldiers because they 'had to' or because 'nothing else was open to them', is SO classist and obviously a reflection on how YOU think and how YOU have made selfish choices in YOUR lives.

People's sense of self-worth is defined more than just a status quo college degree and a cubicle somewhere with a check every week. Maybe you should try to do something for someone else just ONCE! Serve your country somehow, seek the dangerous job of protecting the weak, or actually fixing the problems of the world - not just blogging your negative poison.

If you regret wasting your life in a cubicle, don't hate those that went out and risked their safety and futures to do something greater than themselves. It's not to late, you can still do something to cast the shame you obviously feel off by doing something good.

Iraq was a farce people, wake the hell up. It had nothing to do with 9/11, or WMD's..it has contributed to the collapse of our economy while we squander away hundreds of billions of dollars each year, it has killed more Americans than 9/11, and nearly 1 million Iraqis, and it has enriched the oil companies and contractors so clearly & obviously tied to this administration. The administration still pals around with the Saudi's which is where 15 of the 19 hijackers came from, in case you geniuses care. None of these soldiers were drafted. They all chose the military of their free will. I feel for the ones that did it for money, or for an education, only to get screwed by their superiors who led them into this shameful mess, but the lot of you with your blind "support the troops" chant boggle my mind. Don't you see you've been scammed? The best support is to get them out of this place they should NEVER have been in the first place.

Sure it's a nice gesture. But $1000 / enlistee doesn't negate the fact that this war was one big expensive lie. Bush & Co LIED to lead us into this war, and the only people who truly gained "Freedom" were the stockholders of war contractors like Bechtel, Carlysle, HALIBURTON, WorldCom... ...and the freedom gained by these stockholders was "financial freedom," not the democratic freedom implied by Bush & Co.

How about a $1000 tax credit to the working stiffs who paid for the war with their tax dollars ???

Well said Fair & Equitable. I could not agree more. As much as some make college out to be all fun and games, it's not. I busted my butt in college and medical school for the reason of saving lives, not taking them and now I'm going to be paying for it until I'm 50. Where's my check?

Hey I never received my check. Served with the USMC from 1998-2007. My overseas assignments included going to Bahrain, Afghanistan, Japan, and Kosovo. Do I not count cause i never been to Iraq? this is bull shit.

On a similar note whats up with the Veterans Day Parade in Boston. Went last year and it was a bunch of high school ROTC and the Chinese-American American Legion or whoever they were. Not 1 group of young, recent returned veterans. I even tried to get in and was stopped by a cop telling me I could not "cross" and those vets that got arrested last year? I may not agree with their opinion but no vet should be denied marching in a parade.

So I stay home on this Veterans Day and get drunk. Happy Veterans day to ya'll.

yeah i think its pretty louise that you have to live in mass. to get a bonus.my husbands unit is located in mass. but he doesnt get one because we live in new hampshire. this is the secound bonus he loss out on .

yeah i think its pretty louse that you have to live in mass. to get a bonus.my husbands unit is located in mass. but he doesn't get one because we live in new Hampshire. this is the second bonus he loss out on .

yeah
I think its pretty bad to all servicemen who was sent over seas to protect their country that don't live in mass don't qualify for this bonus. my husband has 29 years of service his unit is in mass.we live in new Hampshire for the past five years. so he doesnt qualify this is the second bonus he didn't receive how about that

Anyone and everyone deployed in a combat zone should get the 1k, those that are feeding and supplying those in direct combat, those that make sure they get paid and promotions, those that provide intelligence and medical care. These all provide a service and see the combat, maybe not as much as the line troops.

For those that don't support the troops remember to thank a vet for the ability to say that you don't support them.

Thank you one and all who have served, whether you agreed with the cause or not you still served. And Thank You Mass for the support you give to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guard, & both the Guard & Reserve

Too Bad that Dapper O'Neil is not alive to comment on this ordeal.

I am sick of people telling me to, "thank a vet for the ability to say that you don't support them." F that! These people make my life more dangerous everyday by killing people in all corners of the globe and sucking up 1/2 of our national budget -- now they are getting their paws deeper into the state coffers. I would have a whole lot more freedom without them! So, no thanks, stop taking more of my tax money, and STOP demanding my gratitude.

Once again the state has no problem throwing your/our money around. Perfect example why you should have voted Yes on #1. I wouldn't give these people a dime. They joined the army as a means to an end....to get a job/benefits or maybe they just liked playing with guns. Maybe they are actually patriotic...still doesn't warrant a $1,000 check.

Suzanne, I do agree with you on the fact that you live in New Hamsphire and you husband missed out on 2 bonus checks and I am sure that you could have used that money, That is something N.H has to vote on.I suggest that you write to your Congressman. Taxachusetts has plenty of money they suck the blood right out of our veins. I only wish it was $10 grand. The crooked politicians in this state eat and sleep well at night knowing that their families are taken care of.. I wish I had the money to move to N.H. at least they know how to control their taxpayer's money.

Wow, such bitterness in some of these comments. I have a Brother that still has flash backs being in the Vietnam War. Especially seeing 10 men in his troop being shot to death and him having to play dead while the viet cong poked at him . Not even to make a sound or blink a eyelash. A decorated Marine and is proud to have served his Country. He always wanted to be a Police Officer or a Firefighter like his dad but, ended up in the Seafood Business. He is a happy go lucky guy and fun to be with always looking ahead and never looking back and he always full of seafood. Happy Holidays everyone

Hey, "I don't support the troops", you have the right to not support anyone or anything you want. That will not stop those of us who serve from serving, I gave my 20 years to defend this nation and all who live here including you, Cindy Sheehan and Jane Fonda. I am proud of what I did and I still serve my nation today and there are hundreds of thousands of us that will serve and die for less, we do not need your gratitude or your money, but it is appreciated when it is given with love and appreciation for a job well done. We do not chose when and where we go, we just go where our elected officals send us. We love this land and our freedom and will fight to the end to be free and if that means you get to live free along with those who care then you are just a well-fare receipiant of our freedom.

#39 comment. I only hope that your not my neighbor. Because if someone knows where you live your going to be blown off the face of the earth. Just think about what you said. I Guess you wouldn't mind if a terrorist rang your doorbell or drop a bomb on your home, Kidnapped your family and tortured them. Wars have been in and around the continent from the begining of time. So, If your not happy in this life just, kill yourself and move on. We , and all the other military people that served their country will not miss you. And I gather you have not served this country or you don't plan to. I bet you don't give a donation for anything in this country you are just a taker and not a giver no matter what the cause is.

Kevin most of us joined so that if there is a need to defend this land that there will already be some prepared and trained to defend those who do not feel the need or desire to be a soldier or marine. I don't ask anything of you except to respect me and my profession, as I do you and yours. Like Greatful Soldier said we love this land and will fight to the end to be free and if that means you get to live free along with us...so be it.

And for those that think we get all this free stuff....ask the families and friends of those that have given for freedom.