(Western Mass News) Springfield — This Veterans Day, veterans across western Massachusetts have a new place to turn for support. Western Massachusetts’ first Executive Office of Veterans Services location opened last Monday on Main Street in Springfield.
With about 42,000 veterans living in western Mass., this new building is a good reminder that veteran recognition doesn’t end with only ceremonies. There’s already a city Veterans’ Services Department at Springfield City Hall, but that only supports veterans in the city. This new separate office opened in the heart of Springfield to support all western Mass. Veterans.
It’s the first full-spectrum veterans’ services location in the region. Some of the services being offered are on your screen now, including housing resources, mental-health support, and financial assistance.
We spoke with Massachusetts State Senator John Velis about this new hub, who said setting up shop doesn’t just honor the region’s veterans, it’s also a great way to put western Mass. on the map, “how many times do I have reach out from constituents who say, oh my God, I had to call Boston. Oh my God, I had to drive to Boston. Oh my God, fill in the blanks. You can talk about any topic there is. So just having that physical footprint here means a lot,” Velis said.
Now with this office stationed in Springfield, we were curious about how western Mass residents further away would be able to access the office. While Senator Velis hoped these offices will become more prominent, it starts with another service on the roads, “it’s providing transportation. There needs to be free transportation, and it can’t be once every month. That doesn’t work. It needs to be transportation on demand that we will get you to your services.”
To mark the day, a ceremony was held at Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam.
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