To the Honorable Senate Chairman, Stephen M. Brewer; Honorable House Chairman, Anthony Verga;
Honorable members of the committee

We want to first thank you for your invitation to testify before the Committee. We are truly honored. If we did not
have a prior commitment in Chicago for the final Eyes Wide Open National Exhibit, we can assure you
that we would be there. We will be bringing our son's uniform and boots back home after two and half years.

Our daughter and Jeffrey's youngest sister, Debra Lucey, will be able to attend to represent Jeffrey's story.

Since Jeffrey's death, through our travels, we have met so many veterans ... both here in the Commonwealth as
well as throughout this nation. The common thread in most of them is the significant change which has occurred
in them due to the exposure to that which we call War.

What we have found is that the Federal Government, state governments and local governments were not and
still are not in any way prepared for the returning veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs has not been
prepared for those in need despite their public relations show which they put on. Our son's tragic experience
showed only some of the shortcomings which has resulted in the many tragic stories which have been slowly
coming to light. In fact there is some concern that the Federal Government has tried to downplay the crisis in
DOD and the VA health care systems especially for mental health issues. Regretfully during their posturing,
more lives have been lost. Is this what we call supporting the troops?

Then, as in Jeffrey's case, the Federal Government abdicated their responsibilities for the caring of Jeffrey and in
doing so, we then turned toward the state government which again failed us for when we called Mt. Tom
Emergency Services, we were informed that since Jeffrey was drinking - they could not respond to his needs in
any way even though Jeffrey was in crisis - Jeffrey found himself once again abandoned. We found ourselves
abandoned. It appeared that the system only wanted to deal with the simplest and easiest of cases  - not those
who were truly in crisis and which was challenging to their existing policies.

This should have never happened. This must not happen again - especially for those who have sacrificed so
much but then are so quickly disregarded and ignored upon their return.

The Federal Government is trying to tighten their restrictions re: being declared as suffering from PTSD - is that
supporting the troops as so many shout from the rooftops; the treatment options for our many troops are so
few - despite the knowledge of the impact that this war was to have on many of our troops ... did this reflect a true
commitment to our troops - especially when those that  should have prepared for the troops never did.

Our son, Jeffrey, struggled horribly especially during the last 3 months of his life. We, his family, suffered along
with him but we didn't know it back then - we had adapted to the fear and the raging chaos. All of us were
caught up in the raging, swirling storm.  Jeffrey's suffering took on many forms ie. hallucinations - audial, visual
as well as tactile,; daily vomiting; heavy drinking, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, increasing isolation,
increasing anger and self loathing and so much more.

The family also became more isolated and felt totally helpless and powerless. We came to doubt ourselves and
didn't know what to do or where to turn ... especially after the VA turned our son away on June 5, 2004. We
admit that Jeffrey did not voluntarily enter but then we all must remember whether it is reasonable to expect one
who has been severely damaged by war to make reasonable and rational decisions for their own healthcare. Yet
all of us went to whom we thought were the experts regarding PTSD.... only to discover that was not to be in our
son's case. We believe that statements such as " If you have further problems with him, kick him out and let him
hit rock bottom" or " Call the police and if necessary, lie" as well as " Learn to live with it and suck it up" reflect a
system which is broken, dysfunctional and lacks compassion.  It  appeared in Jeffrey's case that the system was
not interested in meeting the needs of a Veteran.

Nine days later, after Jeffrey's mother told the VA that we were watching our son slowly die, we then heard of the
Vet Center and the appointment was made for a few days later. On the 18th, we spent three hours at the Vet
Center while they developed a treatment plan for Jeffrey which would include visiting him at the house three
times per week and try to get a bed for him in a PTSD unit - regretfully that plan would never be implemented ...
with all the time wasted - time would finally run out.

During the last days of this young man's - our son's life - Jeffrey tried to find refuge and safe harbor. Even in front
of his sister, Jeffrey asked to sit in my lap twice and we rocked together  - on the night before he died, Jeffrey
again asked and we rocked in silence for over 45 minutes.

The next time that I held my son in my lap, I was taking the hose from around his neck while holding his cold and
lifeless body in my arms.... on June 22, 2004.

This didn't have to be; this should have never been and it must never be again for anyone!

The administration and federal government turned its' back on our son; they abandoned our son and they left
him behind - to die. Regretfully this story has been repeated time and time again for too many others across this
great nation.

In memory of our son, Jeffey Michael Lucey and all those who have perished from these hidden wounds as well
as in honor of those suffering now, we would ask this committee to consider the following:

           that the Commonwealth examine the emergency services response system as it exists within this
Commonwealth to respond to those veterans in desperate need of emergency mental health intervention -
especially recognizing that many veterans ( combat related PTSD ) also suffer from substance abuse issues;

            that the Commonwealth modify an existing position ie veterans agents or create a position of one either
on a local or regional basis who would be knowledgeable of the maze of resources both federal and
state; act as an advocate and keep track of those veterans seeking help and their results; then report all back to
the state and federal authorities;

           that this Commonwealth and the Federal Government together agree to examine issues related to service
delivery to the veterans and their loved ones both in the urban and rural areas of this Commonwealth;

          that this Commonwealth advocate for the development of truly an effective, responsive health care system
for this Commonwealth's veterans and their families;

           that the House Bill 3728 be amended to read ".... Returning Massachusetts Servicemembers and their
Families ";

            that the House Bill 3728 be amended to read " ... that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts create a
13-member special commission to study
..... "

            That the House Bill 3728 be amended to read " ... the secretary of veterans services, or his designee; two
military families appointed by the committee; ... "


On behalf of our son, Jeffrey Michael Lucey, and our family, we once again wish to thank you for this opportunity.

Respectfully submitted,

Kevin Lucey,  Joyce Lucey,  Debra Lucey
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Testimony for 5/24/07 Hearing- Joint Committee on Veterans & Federal Affairs