Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, alongside key state leaders, inaugurated the first Military Appreciation Day at the State House in Boston, an event designated to honor veterans, active-duty service members, and military families. According to Mass.gov, more than a hundred individuals from the military community were recognized in a ceremony that involved the presentation of Governor's citations and challenge coins, a military tradition symbolizing recognition and morale. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Veterans Services Secretary Jon Santiago, and Senate President Karen Spilka were among the dignitaries who attended.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Healey-Driscoll Administration, seeks to forge a new tradition that brings together local and state leaders annually. Each legislator nominated a member of the local military community for the accolades. “We created Military Appreciation Day at the State House to honor these heroes—veterans, active-duty service members, and military families—whose courage, strength and commitment to service continue to shape our state and our nation for the better,” Governor Healey stated in an announcement obtained by Mass.gov.
The event featured a keynote address from retired General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., a Massachusetts native and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who spoke on the enduring importance of recognizing service across generations. A musical performance by Michelle Brooks-Thompson, an NBC’s The Voice finalist, accompanied the ceremony.
A week of statewide activities surrounded the inauguration, spotlighting the military community's contributions. The events echoed a community-wide sentiment of reverence for those who've given to the country, with final observances slated for Memorial Day at veteran memorial cemeteries in Agawam and Winchendon. “Massachusetts is home to one of the most vibrant, committed military communities in the country,” Lieutenant Governor Driscoll expressed in conversations shared by Mass.gov. “This day is about uplifting the contributions of those who have sacrificed so much and showing that their service will never go unrecognized.”
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services, in collaboration with the Legislature, put together this inaugural celebration, reinforcing Massachusetts' deep-seated tradition of respect for their servicemembers. The event also engaged local veterans’ organizations and partner agencies, culminating in a lunch reception for the honorees, donated by the Military Friends Foundation.
