Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-03-27
HOME SERVICE
AND AFTER.CARE
of One Branch of
Red Cross Work Shown to
Members of Merchants Asso-
citation and Chamber of Com.
merce by Boston Man

Home Service and Aftcr-Care" was
the subject ably presented to members
Of the Burlington Merchants associa-
ton and Chamber of Commerce at the
roof garden Of the Hotel Vermont Tues
day by r. M. Cushman from the Bos-
ton Office Of the American Red Cross
President A. J. Canning opened the
meeting and introduced &. D. Ordway,
chairman Of the county branch of the
Red Cross. The latter, in a brief adj
dress, introduced the speaker.
Mr.. Cushman impressed the audience
by the magnitude of the work of the
Home Service department of the Red
Cross. 1t ia branch that ia little
known but which accomplished a great
deal and still has a great deal to ac-
complish even in peace times. The
work of the future can only be accom-
plished with the and of civilians, es-
pecially the business men of the va
rious communities.
With the return of the soldiers, SAIL
lors and marines there Is presented
to the Home Service department of the
Red Cross many new and perplexing
problems All of them are different
from any that the war has been spon-
sor for. All require study, thinking
and decisive action.
IneTe are TWO laws tnaC directly
benefit the returned service men. One
is the war risk insurance and the 9TH
err the vocational rehabilitation law.
There are many clauses in each of these
laws that are perplexng Each has
its particular benefits. such as COM
pensation. etc, and there are many men
who are entitled to compensation for
injuries received in battle, in the SER
vice for sickness or ill-health incurred
while in the service, after being dis
charged, etc. 1t is essential that ev-
cry service man know the rules and
regulations that fit his special case.
There is special line of work which
the Home Service department can per-
form to the great advantage of the
returned service men. The depart
ment can fill out the application pa
pers for vocational training, compen-
sation. insurance changes etc, for to
the average soldier the papers are not
clear being worded with the usual
governmental language.
The Home Service department should
take up the matter of insurance with
the returned men, They should not
drop their war risk insurance. for 1t Is
the best and cheapest in the world.
Within a short time the present poll
cies can be converted into one Of six
Ipollcies, with the\ same StandardlZa-
ton as private insurance companies.
but which have additional numbers of
beneficial clauses. The conversion of
the policy will need the advise of a
llevel-headed man or woman to fill out
the blanks.
For disabled men the Home Ser
vice department assis. in the training
and the reha bilitation of such men
so far as possible to aid the govern
ment's plans. For men who are sick
or need medical treatment the Home
Service department should see that
they get it either locally or at govrn-
ment institutions.
The encouragement of employment
should be one of the functions of the
Home Service department. This should
be particularly taken up by the bust
ness men. Community social service
should be taken by the Home Service
department, as well as many other
plans to assist the returned soldiers