VETERANS

The Massachusetts Legislature has begun a five-month stretch of informal sessions following the end of formal sessions last week.

Many Memorial Day celebrations across the region were canceled due to heavy rain and thunderstorms earlier today, but not the ceremony at the state Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam, which moved indoors.

The tribute banners, hung on utility poles, display men and women who've in some way served the country — in times of war and peace.

The Sheffield Historical Society unveiled a new headstone for Black Civil War soldier William D. Jones on Wednesday. His family members and about one hundred people from the town gathered to celebrate his military service.

Construction of a new state-run veterans’ home in Holyoke is progressing. The $480-million project will replace the current building. Formerly known as the Holyoke Soldiers' Home, the facility in use now was the site of a deadly 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, where at least 76 veterans died.

Pharmacist’s Mate 2nd Class Merle Hillman died at Pearl Harbor, but his remains were only identified late last year, using DNA technology. This Saturday, several of his remaining family members will bury him in his hometown of Holyoke, Massachusetts, accompanied by full military honors.

Thoughts about the concept of "moral injury" — a relatively new term describing an ancient condition suffered by those who go to war.

Commentator and veteran John Paradis says family members of veterans have also served. In fact they often continue to serve.

The current Holyoke, Mass., veterans facility was the site of a deadly COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 where nearly 80 veterans died.

A report last year by the Massachusetts' auditor's office said the state veteran's services office had only identified 6% of the 25,000 women veterans living here.