Governor Healey joins veterans and their families for Memorial Day observance in Agawam
This ceremony united people to honor the brave service members who've given their lives for our country. The sun shined on the rows of white and grey headstones of fallen military heroes at Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam, adorned with American flags. Veterans and their loved ones gathered to honor their memory and bravery during a ceremony.
'I've been here before it a couple of times because my father, this is her first time, and it's very moving,' said Joseph Calvanese of Ludlow.
'You don't feel sad, you feel happy, and I guess that's the way we're supposed to feel. But, you know, it's not as easy, you know, as you think,' added Maria Calvanese of Ludlow.
Governor Maura Healey recognized these families for their strength and relicense as they came out to visit their loved ones in their final resting place. 'I ask everybody across Massachusetts to step out of themselves for a moment and find a way to reflect on maybe to pray for, maybe to think about service in your own way, and to do it to honor the legacy of those who served,' said Governor Healey.
She stood alongside other officials like State Senator John Velis and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno in giving their remarks. As we remember and honor these fallen soldiers, officials express that we must also recognize the importance of their sacrifice in defending our freedoms and keeping us safe.
'We live in a free country because of them. I get to walk my son to the park, and have some peace and tranquility because of the sacrifice that generations upon generations of American service members made. And whether it's the freedom of speech to believe in whatever I want to believe in,' said Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Veterans' Services, Jon Santiago.
Governor Healey also noted the work being done in Massachusetts to support veterans, like building the new Veterans home in Holyoke and activating the military asset security strategies task force to make sure the military in the commonwealth is advocated for in Washington, DC. And her next big goal will be making investments to reduce the homeless population among veterans.
Governor Healey also addressed that Military recruitment numbers are low across the country, and she said she hopes more people will consider joining.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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