Massachusetts honors military members in annual Veterans Day ceremony

Massachusetts former and current military servicemembers flooded the Hall of Flags in the State House to be recognized and honored for their institution in an annual Veterans Day tradition Tuesday morning In contemporary times is a day of reverence declared Gov Maura Healey It s a day of respect It should also be a day of celebration I believe for the willingness of men and women to come forward over the years through decades through centuries from Massachusetts and around this country to do something for the greater good It doesn t get any better than that State leaders highlighted the organization of Massachusetts s veterans on Tuesday and the work the state has done for those who have served The holiday marks years since the end of World War I when the day which would be known as Veterans Day Armistice Day was founded The ceremony Tuesday included addresses from state leaders an Honor Guard presentation from the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company a POW MIA Remembrance ceremony and Taps presented by the Gold Star Wives of America and a drill performance by the Lynn JROTC The Captain Thomas Hudner Jr Valor Award presented each year to veterans who exemplify extraordinary courage and selflessness was also given to Marine veteran and Boston police officer Andrew Biggio Biggio is a former infantry rifleman who founded Boston s Wounded Vet Run to raise money for those severely wounded and wrote the book The Rifle Combat Stories from America s Last WWII Veterans documenting the stories of who served in WWII The organization Soldier On a Pittsfield nonprofit dedicated to ending veteran homelessness and supporting those facing housing instability was awarded the Captain Thomas Kelley Area Engagement Award Soldier On has also stepped up big to feed hungry veterans in modern days and weeks Healey noted veterans were receiving SNAP in Massachusetts alone or of our veteran population Veterans Services Secretary Jon Santiago who is set to step down this fall after nearly three years noted the administration s work including the decrease in veteran homelessness passing the HERO Act to expand veteran benefits and modernize services and rebuilding of veterans homes after the tragic hit of COVID- It s really the stories that have really inspired me the majority whether it s the homeless veteran who absolutely got his pair of keys who could get the care that he needed to move on with his life reported Santiago Or the Gold Star families a Gold Star mother in particular who lost her son in Iraq and devoted her life to supporting next generation of soldiers Santiago stated the crowd Tuesday he couldn t be prouder be your secretary John Driscoll an Army veteran of years and member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts cited the work the state Treasurer s office did this year to get Purple Hearts determined through the unclaimed property division back to their homes this year Every veteran has a story disclosed Driscoll And those medals mean something on our chests Really the story has to be notified to the family members and the community get to appreciate it more So that s what I took away Was a good reminder of that at present Col Paul Murphy an Air Force veteran from Hyde Park reported he s proud to be from Boston on Veterans Day because we started it all The Marines hit their th anniversary on Monday and Healey noted though Pennsylvania may claim their founding it was Gen George Washington who was the first to order soldiers in the Continental Army to serve aboard ships in Massachusetts The governor cited Massachusetts as the birthplace of the National Guard Navy and Coast Guard as well noting the state s proud military tradition Related Articles Collins Honoring veterans by better serving them A place to go when the PTSD hits At WWII veteran Irving Locker has become a songwriter Veterans Day Events across Massachusetts set to honor military servicemembers Boston Weather Cold and bitter wind chills forecast for Veterans Day Donald Mofford an Air Force vet who contributors at the National Guard Museum in Concord declared at present is invariably special We try to think about veterans every day announced Mofford But this day brings us out and gives us a special meeting just to say thank you to all who have served and especially those who lost their lives Members of the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps JROTC march into the Veterans Day Ceremony at the Massachusetts State House on Tuesday Photo By Matt Stone Boston Herald Robert Kinsman Commander of the Disabled American Veterans DAV shoots a video during Tuesday s Veterans Day Ceremony at the State House Photo By Matt Stone Boston Herald