By Paul Sordillo

Hull Veterans Service Officer

Thank you all who attended and participated in this year’s Memorial Day events.

I get the same question every year after Memorial Day: Why was a veteran’s grave missed with a flag? Often it’s because it is not marked/identified as a veteran’s grave with a marker, sometimes it simply was missed. More likely, it was not marked.

Memorial headstones and flat markers are available to all veterans at no charge. A government-furnished headstone or marker may be provided for eligible veterans who died on or after November 1, 1990 and whose grave is marked with a privately purchased headstone. A government-furnished medallion may be provided for eligible veterans who served on or after April 6, 1917 and whose grave is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker.

For veterans’ remains that are not interred, a commemorative plaque or urn is available. However, if its decided that the remains are to be interred at a later date and you already have received the commemorative plaque or urn, you are not eligible for a memorial headstone or marker. So please make sure this is for you if applying.

I am available to help fill out forms in my office on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is advisable to make an appointment; walk-ins are welcome but may have to wait if someone has an appointment.

Both requests for headstones and markers, as well as medallions, must be signed by the town clerk before submitting to veteran affairs. I am asked to review each application if I have not already done so.

On a final note, this is the final call for requesting placement on the Global War on Terrorism placard at the war memorial. The criteria, as posted on the veteran services page on the town’s website (www.town.hull.ma.us/veterans-services) under the heading Re-Solicitation for Memorial Wall (GWOT): DD-214 must have Hull as home of record; minimum of 180 days of active service; discharge characterized as honorable or general; under honorable conditions, dates are August 2, 1990 - August 31, 2021; death certificate included, if applicable; and consent form for usage of name must be signed.

The last day to submit your documents and consent form is Veterans Day, November 11, 2025. Please reach out to my office with any questions.

Call or visit the veterans office (appointments recommended, but not necessary) for more details of the subject matter in this article, or any benefit question. Paul Sordillo, Hull’s Veterans Service Officer, can be reached at 781-925-0305 or psordillo@town.hull.ma.us.

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