Section 52A1/2. Any employee who is a veteran as defined in clause Forty-third of section seven of chapter four or is a member of a department of war veterans listed in section seventeen of chapter eight and who desires to participate in a Veterans Day or Memorial Day exercise, parade or service shall be allowed and granted a leave of absence, with or without pay at the discretion of an employer, of sufficient time to participate in such services in their community of residence.

This section shall not apply to employees whose services are essential and critical to the public health or safety and determined to be essential to the safety and security of each such employer or property thereof.