Massachusetts military veterans were honored Wednesday at the State House by the state’s top elected officials during a Veterans Day ceremony that saw awards presented to military heroes and their families while also recognizing organizations supporting those who have served.
“For centuries, our veterans have been the ones standing at the vanguard of freedom and justice,” Gov. Maura Healey told a packed house. “They’ve fought the tyrants and fought fascism. They’ve written defining chapters on the courage and conviction of service and the story of our great nation. It’s a story our veterans and service members who continue to write today in the Massachusetts present.
“One of commitment, made by the men and women sitting among us. One of sacrifice, made by those who took it and one of obligation. Obligation of a grateful nation, a grateful state, a grateful governor to faithfully serve our greatest heroes,” she said.
The ceremony saw the Captain Thomas Hudner Jr. Valor Award given to Amy Bradford of the Mass Veterans Alliance Foundation Corp, Gregg Brasso of the Veterans Voice Network, Steve Jones of the Warriors Art Room and Doug Linnell of Go Mobile Assets.
The award is presented to individuals within the veteran community who “exemplify extraordinary courage and selflessness,” according to the Executive Office of Veterans Services.
Meanwhile, the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center was named the 2026 recipient of the Captain Thomas Kelley Community Engagement Award for consistently “finding ways to be present and accessible to the veterans they serve in a region in which providing services often requires going the extra mile.”
That award is given to organizations “dedicated to local service and community empowerment.”
The ceremony was capped off by armed and unarmed drill performances by the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company and the Lynn English High School Marine Corps ROTC.
The keynote speaker was U.S. Army Lt. Col. Dr. Cathy-Ann Alexander.
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