Ronald Roy of Shrewsbury, Air Force veteran, a guest at State of the Union address

Among a crowd of the most powerful people in the U.S. government attending the State of the Union was a U.S. Air Force veteran raised in Worcester who was initially denied Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.

Ronald Roy, 74, attended the State of the Union as a guest of U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, to highlight the signing of the PACT Act in August 2022, and the veterans who now have access to benefits.

Ahead of his Thursday-morning flight to Washington, D.C., Roy said the bill finally gave veterans access to the support they need.

"We put our lives on the line for this country and it was time for them to turn around and help us out," Roy said.

Roy is not the only member of his family who has sacrificed in the name of service. He is the father of fallen Worcester firefighter Christopher Roy, whose 2018 death while battling a five-alarm fire at a burning building shook the city.

Ronald Roy and his wife formally adopted granddaughter Ava after Christopher Roy's death.

Ronald Roy attended South High Community School, graduating in 1968.

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Aircraft mechanic

Roy, who is now a Shrewsbury resident, pre-enlisted with the Air Force and from 1969 to 1973 was an aircraft mechanic during the Vietnam War.

In his final years of service, Roy believes he was exposed to Agent Orange while in Thailand.

Roy believes the exposure is connected to his later development of Type 2 diabetes, glaucoma and other health issues.

"I had several illnesses. Just like a lot of Vietnam veterans, it just didn't pop up right away. It happened years afterwards," Roy said.

Agent Orange is a chemical herbicide that linked to the development of cancer and other illnesses for both Vietnamese citizens and U.S. veterans who served during the conflict.

Roy submitted claims to the Veterans Administration, which were denied.

For Roy, losing out on VA benefits meant paying for the many medications he has to take.

The additional medication costs could be especially challenging for a couple on Social Security who are raising a teenager.

PACT Act

After the passage of the PACT Act — which stands for Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act — Roy appealed those claims and they were granted. Roy has filed an additional claim as well and now gets all his medication through the VA.

The PACT Act funded research and benefits for as many as 3.5 million veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during service.

The bill expanded eligibility for veterans exposed to burn pits. Before, they were often denied benefits on claims related to burn-pit exposure because there is no clear evidence directly linking burn pits with respiratory illness and cancer.

The bill lifted the burden of proof for veterans by codifying certain respiratory illnesses and cancers as related to burn pits. Veterans of the Vietnam War, Gulf War and post-9/11 conflicts who are experiencing these circumstances are eligible for benefits.

President Biden signed the PACT Act into law in 2022 after passing Congress with bipartisan support. Some Republicans in the Senate who delayed passage, wary that it would lead to additional unrelated spending, ultimately supported the bill after a campaign by veterans groups and their advocates including comedian Jon Stewart.

"The PACT Act opened the door up. Many, many veterans got what they deserved," Roy said.

The VA reports completing 458,659 PACT Act-related claims during the first year of its implementation.

Roy first got in contact with McGovern's office in 2019.

'Cut through a lot of red tape'

Ahead of the State of the Union, McGovern said he expected Biden to bring up the PACT Act during his speech.

"I thought it would be important for someone who actually benefited from this legislation to be here when the president of the United States talks about it," McGovern said. "There are millions of people who have been exposed to radiation, Agent Orange, Gulf War toxins and burn pit exposures who have had to fight tooth-and-nail over the years to prove that their conditions are service-connected."

McGovern was happy with the role his office played in Roy's claims process.

"In my office, we are proud of the fact that, thanks to President Biden, we were able to help Mr. Roy," McGovern said.

Roy praised McGovern's office for helping him and other veterans with VA claims.

"They cut through a lot of red tape that would take months and years as far as putting in a claim," Roy said.

In addition, Roy said he was honored that McGovern selected him as his guest and he was particularly affected when he talked to the congressman last year at the Worcester Red Sox opening game. McGovern told him that he keeps a picture of Christopher Roy in his Washington office.

Along with attending the State of the Union, Roy planned to have a full day scheduled with McGovern's office. Roy, who had only gone to Washington once a long time ago, said he was looking forward to visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

"Being able to go into the Capitol, going to Congressman McGovern's office, to meet with other congressmen at a reception...I'm looking forward to that."

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Air Force veteran Ronald Roy will be McGovern's State of Union guest