By Alison KuznitzState House News Service.Officials must continue engaging with veterans and military families in order to support them, Governor Maura Healey said Thursday while surrounded on Boston Common by more than 37,000 American flags representing fallen Massachusetts service members..Ahead of her first Memorial Day weekend as governor, Healey sought to honor families gathered who had lost loved ones in military service — whether in battle or training, or due to physical wounds or psychological trauma they experienced in the aftermath of returning home, the governor said.."We can never fully heal their family's loss, but we can show our reverence, our gratitude, our support," Healey said. "We can support the active members of the military, and we can support our veterans who continue to lead us and to inspire us. We can be a community of support, working ever more closely together to provide health care, mental health services, access to housing, to job training, a safe and dignified retirement, and service for our military families.".Healey in February tapped now-former state representative Jon Santiago (D-South End), a major in the U.S. Army Reserve, to serve as the first secretary of the Executive Office of Veterans' Services. The position was elevated to the Cabinet-level through legislation tied to the massive COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home..Santiago attended the Remembering and Honoring Our Massachusetts Heroes event alongside Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, and Treasurer Deb Goldberg, among other officials. The ceremony featured individuals reading the names of military members who have died since September 11, 2001.."As we hear their names this morning, we will think of the memories all of you carry with you and all the ways they live on in your hearts," said Healey, who called the memorial flag garden near the Soldiers and Sailors Monument "stunning.".New to NewBostonPost? Discover the difference with content that goes beyond the typical Massachusetts news outlets. Stay informed with news and commentary rooted in conservative values—for just $1 a week. Cancel anytime. Don’t wait—join now and see what you’ve been missing!
By Alison KuznitzState House News Service.Officials must continue engaging with veterans and military families in order to support them, Governor Maura Healey said Thursday while surrounded on Boston Common by more than 37,000 American flags representing fallen Massachusetts service members..Ahead of her first Memorial Day weekend as governor, Healey sought to honor families gathered who had lost loved ones in military service — whether in battle or training, or due to physical wounds or psychological trauma they experienced in the aftermath of returning home, the governor said.."We can never fully heal their family's loss, but we can show our reverence, our gratitude, our support," Healey said. "We can support the active members of the military, and we can support our veterans who continue to lead us and to inspire us. We can be a community of support, working ever more closely together to provide health care, mental health services, access to housing, to job training, a safe and dignified retirement, and service for our military families.".Healey in February tapped now-former state representative Jon Santiago (D-South End), a major in the U.S. Army Reserve, to serve as the first secretary of the Executive Office of Veterans' Services. The position was elevated to the Cabinet-level through legislation tied to the massive COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home..Santiago attended the Remembering and Honoring Our Massachusetts Heroes event alongside Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, and Treasurer Deb Goldberg, among other officials. The ceremony featured individuals reading the names of military members who have died since September 11, 2001.."As we hear their names this morning, we will think of the memories all of you carry with you and all the ways they live on in your hearts," said Healey, who called the memorial flag garden near the Soldiers and Sailors Monument "stunning.".New to NewBostonPost? Discover the difference with content that goes beyond the typical Massachusetts news outlets. Stay informed with news and commentary rooted in conservative values—for just $1 a week. Cancel anytime. Don’t wait—join now and see what you’ve been missing!
![Ahead of Memorial Day, more than 37,000 American flags are planted on Boston Common to honor fallen Massachusetts service members since the Revolutionary War to today. [Alison Kuznitz/SHNS]](http://media.assettype.com/newbostonpost%2Fimport%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F05%2F05-25_Flag_Garden_Memorial_Day-e1685106324143.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
