Press Release  Secretary Santiago visits Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam and Veterans’ Home in Holyoke Highlighting Proposed FY24 Budget

HOLYOKE — On Friday, Executive Office of Veterans’ Services Secretary Jon Santiago visited the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam and the Veterans’ Home in Holyoke. There, he voiced support for increased funding proposed by Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kimberley Driscoll in their FY24 H.1 budget recommendations. 

In Agawam, Secretary Santiago toured the grounds with Director of Cemeteries Richard Bastien and met with staff and volunteers. Under Director Bastien’s leadership the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemeteries lead the nation in honoring veterans and their loved ones. The FY24 budget proposes $2,138,000 in continued funding for the veterans' cemeteries, an increase of almost $10,000 over FY23. 

“The work being done at our Veterans Cemeteries to honor those who served and are no longer with us is critical,” said Secretary Santiago. “Thank you to Director Bastien and his team for welcoming me to Western Massachusetts – a place critical to our mission and home to thousands of veterans and family members. By committing to fund these special sites, Governor Healey continues to prioritize our veterans and their families while celebrating their service.” 

Secretary Santiago then joined Executive Director of Veterans’ Homes and Housing Robert Engell and Superintendent Michael Lazo for a visit to the Veterans’ Home in Holyoke. There, Secretary Santiago met with veterans and their families, as well as staff. Santiago highlighted the FY24 proposal of nearly $28,730,000 for the maintenance and operation of the Home, an increase of over $300,000 from FY23. 

“I am inspired by the tremendous work being done by Superintendent Mike Lazo and his entire team, including frontline staff, nursing professionals and other support staff who care so deeply for our veterans,” said Secretary Santiago. “EOVS is committed to being a visible, collaborative and willing partner with veterans organizations in Western Massachusetts and across the Commonwealth. We are stronger together.”  

Established in 2001, the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam is one of two veterans’ cemeteries operated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The cemeteries are open to eligible veterans and dependents, and eligible veterans can be buried at no cost to the family. For more information, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/locations/massachusetts-veterans-memorial-cemetery-in-agawam. 

The Veterans’ Home in Holyoke is a long-term health care facility available to eligible veterans of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with the mission of providing ‘Care with Honor and Dignity’ in the best possible health care environment. For more information, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/veterans-home-in-holyoke. 

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