(AGAWAM 3/29/2023) Today Senator John Velis (D-Westfield) called out the limited visiting hours at the Agawam Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery. While the Winchendon Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery is open to visitors 24/7, it was recently brought to Senator Velis’ attention that the gates at the Agawam Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery have been closing at 4PM for the past several months.
“There are only two state veterans’ cemeteries in all of Massachusetts. People from all over the state come to Agawam to visit their loved ones and it is absolutely heartbreaking to hear that folks are unable to do that because of these limited hours,” said Senator Velis, who is the Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Veterans & Federal Affairs Committee and a veteran himself. “Closing the gates at 4PM means that people with 9-5 work schedules don’t even have time to visit on the weekdays. The men and women who reside in the Agawam cemetery selflessly served and sacrificed for our nation. Their families and friends should be provided every opportunity to visit them and pay their respects.”
Senator Velis noted that as of March 1st the Executive Office of Veterans’ Services (EOVS) now has a new Secretariat and that he has already reached out to them to raise this issue.
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