From left: Dennis Lyddy and Don Green march in last year’s Memorial Day Parade. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)

There are 285 military veterans in Harvard, which means that Dennis Lyddy, the town’s veterans’ agent, has his work cut out for him.

Lyddy coordinates federal, state, and local benefits that are available to the 265 male and 20 female veterans. “The hardest challenge now is convincing veterans to come see me,” he said in a recent interview.

Lyddy especially encourages veterans to come in for health care. “From 1946 to now, lots has changed,” he said. “Laws change and you change.”

For example, he said, hearing problems take years to show up. Anyone serving in Vietnam was probably exposed to a defoliant, like Agent Orange, that could have long-term health effects. Those who served in or after the Persian Gulf War have suffered more traumatic brain injuries from explosions. And post-trauma stress is far better understood now than it was decades ago.

“You need to be evaluated,” Lyddy said.

Veterans with disabilities do not have to have been in combat, Lyddy said, “as long as you were injured while in service.” He pointed out that New England provides some of the best health care in the world and veterans should take advantage of it. The Veterans Administration has contracted services out to other providers for long-term care and hospice, for example, and it subsidizes care for veterans, he said.

Lyddy helps veterans work through the legal requirements to claim benefits for health care, pensions for widows and children, and burials. In addition, if a veteran has suffered certain types of disabilities, towns may offer property tax abatements. Moreover, if a veteran lives below the poverty level, money may be available from the government. “We don’t want homeless vets,” he said.

He appeals to deceased veterans’ spouses to claim earned benefits. “As a service member survivor, you may be entitled to $1,000 twice a year,” he said.

Lyddy said that, in general, each generation has a different philosophy about getting help. World War II veterans may say, “We can do this ourselves,” or, “I’ve borne it for 60 years. I can hold on longer.” Some Vietnam veterans are still angry because they feel the government and civilians did not support them. “Why would I want to come to the government for help?” they might ask.

Anyone who served in the military is a veteran, Lyddy said, and “a vet is a vet forever.”

For veterans interested in online research, Lyddy recommended the federal website, www.va.gov, the state’s site, www.mass.gov/veterans, and the town’s site, www.harvard.ma.us/vetagent.htm where Lyddy has created links to other useful websites.

Lyddy is at Town Hall Tuesdays from noon to 6:30 p.m. (often later). He can be reached at 978-870-7623 or veterans_agent@harvard.ma.us.