To the Editor:

Greetings fellow Newtown Veterans.

Please be sure that your DD214 is on file at our Town Clerk’s Office. This is important for a variety of reasons.

First, if you ever need a notarized copy, they can do one immediately.

Second, when a veteran passes away oftentimes family survivors do not know where to find their DD214. Military honors may not be rendered if you cannot prove veteran status. The Town Clerk is a great repository for that.

Lastly, as a veteran, you are entitled to a small property tax break. If your DD214 is not on file with the Town Clerk, you will not be able to apply for it. If you have not applied for your veteran tax credit, you should do so at the Tax Assessor’s Office. Each town has their own rules as to who gets how much credit.

American Legion Post 202 would like to extend a welcome to Kathy Brown, Newtown’s newly hired tax assessor. She is currently working to verify the accuracy of the tax rolls, which is a good thing.

She is only a couple of months in the position and doing her best to learn the town while cleaning up the rolls. If you have already provided your DD214 and are receiving the tax credit, check in with Kathy to ensure that all your information is correct. If you have not applied, do so now to make sure that you receive the correct property tax credit.

Women veterans who served with their maiden name should be sure to let our new Assessor know your former and current names.

If you are in need of any help, please reach out to our Town Clerk, Debbie Aurelia Halstead. Her email is debbie.halstead@newtown-ct.gov or Tax Assessor Kathy Brown at kathy.brown@newtown-ct.gov before the end of this month so updates will take effect for the July tax cycle.

If you are a veteran or a veteran family member (spouse, sibling, parent, grandparent, child or grandchild) and have other questions, or would like to get involved with the American Legion, please reach out by email at AmericanLegionNewtown@gmail.com or call 203-577-9568.

We have many events and activities coming up this fall and we would love to have you join us!

Donna A Monteleone — Post Commander

American Legion Post 202 serving Newtown & Brookfield