Hi everyone,
I hope everyone enjoyed the fall weather that rolled in this week! I also hope everyone had the opportunity to celebrate Veterans Day. It’s always meaningful to see our community come together to recognize our veterans and honor the service & sacrifice of those who have served.
I began my week in Agawam at Roberta G. Doering School’s sixth-grade Veterans Day ceremony, where I spoke with students about the meaning of service and the value of honoring those who have served our country. It was a pleasure, as always, to engage with the students and hear their thoughtful perspectives.
Earlier this week, I joined the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials Professional Development Day to share my insights with school administrators from across the state on advocating with state legislators for school funding. I am proud to have made securing local school funding a focus throughout my legislative career, and it was great to discuss how schools can successfully advocate for funding at the state level.
On Tuesday, I stopped by the Veterans Home in Holyoke to deliver letters made by students from across the Hampden and Hampshire District. In the weeks leading up to Veterans Day, my team and I collected more than 2,000 letters from students to be shared with residents, and deployed service members around the world through Jillian Battle’s “Bags of Bravery” project. We are proud to have organized this initiative for seven years and grateful for students’ enthusiastic participation.
Veterans Day itself was a busy day across the district as we joined communities in honoring those who have served. I started the day bright and early at the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge, where the Agawam and West Springfield lines meet. I then headed over to the Agawam Veterans Council Ceremony at School Street Park to join community members for the city-wide ceremony. Later in the day, I joined the Veterans Day Ceremony at Agawam Memorial Cemetery before traveling to the Beaven Kelly Rest Home in Holyoke for its observance. While it’s difficult for me to make every event taking place throughout our district, I am grateful for all of the organizers who make these special events possible!
Friday marked the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, and I had the honor of speaking at a community event in Holyoke. The grief experienced by victims’ families does not end after an accident, and this gathering provided an important opportunity to acknowledge that loss and stand in solidarity with those affected, as well as highlight ongoing state and local initiatives to make our roadways safer.
This week, Team Velis hosted office hours in Chicopee. Next week, we’ll be at the Easthampton Council on Aging on Tuesday from 10:30–11:30 a.m. and the Holyoke Council on Aging on Wednesday from 10:00–11:00 a.m. If you’re unable to attend, please feel free to reach out by email at john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone at (413) 572-3920, or online at senatorjohnvelis.com.
Sincerely,
John Velis