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From YouTube: Armed Services and Military Spouse Appreciation
Description
Mayor Wu joins Veterans Services Commissioner Robert Santiago, Blue Star Families Executive Director Jeffrey Chin, and City Council President Ed Flynn to celebrate members of the armed services and their families.
A
A
Right
a
little
bit
better,
we'll
accept
it.
I
want
to
thank
you
all
for
being
here
today.
So
far
it's
turning
out
to
be
it's
a
gorgeous
day.
I
was
a
little
bit
afraid
that
we
might
have
gotten
some
rain
dates
or
some
rain
today,
but
I'm
sure
we've
all
been
out
in
the
rain
at
some
point
or
another
in
our
military
careers.
A
My
name
is
Robert
Santiago
I'm,
the
commissioner
of
Veterans
Services,
here
in
the
great
city
of
Boston,
also
a
former
crew
member
of
the
USS
Constitution
I
was
very
lucky
and
honored
to
have
retired
off
the
USS
Constitution
back
in
the
age
of
sale.
Let's
show
you
how
old
I
am
so
I
want
to
welcome
everyone
to
this
year's
armed
forces
and
Military
responses.
Day
event
here
in
the
city
of
Boston.
As
we
all
know,
this
year's
Memorial
Day
falls
on
Monday
May
29th
on
Memorial
Day.
A
We
will
pause
to
remember
the
sacrifices
and
service
of
those
who
gave
all,
but
this
month,
the
month
of
May,
also
honors
military
spouses
on
Military
response
appreciation
day
and
all
of
our
military
services
for
Armed,
Forces
Day.
So
today,
here
in
the
city
of
Boston,
we
have
combined
both
and
it's
looking
to
be
a
very,
very
great
celebration.
A
We
all
know
that
military
families
know
what
it
means
to
also
serve
every
day:
military
families
they
get
up
and
support
their
loved
ones,
who
are
serving
our
country
standing
by
them.
During
the
arduous
operational
commitments
that
our
service
members
endure
and
the
many
deployments
overseas,
they
know
and
they
understand
the
risks
as
well.
A
A
A
We
are
proud
to
partner
with
them
to
empower
and
strengthen
our
military
families
who
live
in
our
communities
to
thrive
and
connect
them
with
their
neighbors
and
to
continue
to
create
vibrant
communities
here
in
the
city
of
Boston.
So
right
now,
I
would
like
to
call
up
Jeff
Chen
who's,
the
executive
director
Navy
veteran
as
well
up
to
the
podium
to
talk
a
little
bit
more
about
the
blue
star
families,
foreign.
C
Thank
you
so
much,
commissioner,
and
it's
such
a
pleasure
to
be
here.
I
am
thrilled
and
honored
to
join
you
all
today.
This
is
a
special
occasion
for
me,
not
only
because
I'm
here,
representing
blue
star
families
of
New
England,
but
also,
as
commissioner
Santiago
said,
I
am
a
very
proud
Navy
veteran.
This
is
something
that's
quite
meaningful
to
me
and
and
hopefully
to
all
of
you
as
well.
C
So
as
it
was
mentioned,
I
am
I,
am
just
honored
and
thankful
that
mayor
Wu,
the
city
of
Boston,
commissioner
Santiago,
has
put
together
this
day
to
have
us
acknowledge
and
be
recognized.
This
is
something
that
is
something
we
take
to
Heart
here
at
Blue,
Star
families.
So
for
those
of
you
that
don't
know
my
name
is
Jeff.
Chen
I
am
executive
director
for
blue
star
families
of
New
England.
C
C
It
is
my
honor
to
be
in
this
role,
both
as
the
Director
of
the
local
chapter
for
blue
star
families,
but
also
as
a
Navy
veteran
to
really
Tout
The
need
and
the
challenges
and
the
the
wonderful
lifestyle
that
is
our
military
community.
So
thank
you
so
much
for
all
of
your
help
and
support
of
our
families.
C
D
D
I
also
want
to
recognize
my
friend
and
fellow
shipmate
Commission
of
Rob
Santiago,
who
does
an
incredible
job
of
advocating
for
and
supporting
veterans
and
military
families
across
the
city
and
in
the
Commissioners
team,
as
well
at
the
city
council,
we're
here
with
councilor
Aaron
Murphy
who's,
the
chair
of
the
veterans,
military
families
committee
also.
Does
a
tremendous
job
want
to
welcome
everybody,
and
thank
you
for
your
service.
Thank
you
for
your
sacrifice
as
well
when
a
when
a
veteran
serves.
D
So
so,
doesn't
the
family
and
I've
had
the
opportunity
to
be
deployed
several
times
and
I
think
the
hardest
part
for
me,
when
I
deployed
was
when
I
had
the
opportunity
to
come
back
on
leave
for
two
weeks,
but
then
going
back
to
Logan
airport
to
pick
up
a
plane
to
go
back
to
the
Middle
East
and
it
was.
It
was
the
most
difficult
experience
not
for
me,
but
for
my
young
son,
who
was
three
years
old,
so
I
understand
the
struggles
and
concerns
military
families
have.
D
But
what
I
also
know
is
that
there
are
wonderful
organizations
that
also
understand
and
advocate
for
our
military
family
families,
because
they
sacrificed
so
much
for
our
nation
in
making
this
a
strong,
Nation
but
again
honored
to
be
here
with
commissioner
Santiago
in
in
mayowa
Wu
as
well,
along
with
Council,
councilor,
Murphy
and
I.
Think
Mayo
Wu's
team
does
a
tremendous
job
working
to
ensure
every
veteran
is
heard
in
the
city
of
Boston
and
I
also
want
to
recognize
my
call
our
fellowshipmate
as
well.
D
A
B
Thank
you,
commissioner,
and
thank
you
everyone
for
being
here.
It's
so
important
to
recognize,
and
sometimes
we
only
do
it
a
couple
times
a
year,
so
any
chance
we
can
get
as
a
nation
as
a
city
to
make
sure
we
uplift
your
sacrifice
and
knowing
that
organizations
like
the
blue
star.
Thank
you
for
all
you
do,
and
yesterday
I
was
joining
Dan
Magoon
planting
the
flags
for
our
Mass
fallen
heroes.
B
There's
so
many
organizations
out
there
and
I
know
that
our
city,
with
the
leadership
of
commissioner
Santiago,
connects
our
veterans
and
their
families
with
the
resources
that
you've
earned.
But
we
definitely
I
feel
like
their
job
is
never
ending,
because
there
are
so
many
veterans
that
are
just
not
getting
connected
to
the
services
that
are
there
for
them.
B
So
it's
something
that
I
promise
and
do
every
day
to
make
sure
when
veterans
reach
out,
if
it's
housing
or
any
type
of
benefits,
that
they've
earned
making
sure
that
we're
connecting
them,
because
our
city
is
a
rich
city
and
mayor
Wu
and
her
team
is
committed
to
making
sure
that
we
are
here
for
our
veterans.
So,
thank
you
for
your
sacrifice.
Thank
you
to
the
families
council.
B
President
Flynn
said
it
best
that
when
someone
enlists
the
family
enlists
with
you
when
you're
deployed
your
family
is
deployed
with
you,
so
we
need
to
as
a
nation
as
a
city
make
sure
that
we're
there
for
your
family.
If
you're,
not
you
can't
be
there
for
them,
because
you
are
putting
your
life
on
the
line
for
us
and
it
doesn't
go
unnoticed
by
me
or
many
of
my
colleagues.
So
thank
you
so
much.
A
Thank
you
counselor
before
I
go
ahead
and
introduce
the
mayor.
I
wanted
to
also
recognize
and
Jose
maso
is
the
chief
of
Human
Services
he's
a
great
advocate
of
all
our
neighbors
here
in
the
city
of
Boston
and
I'm,
proud
to
call
him
a
good
friend
of
mine,
as
well,
so
with
meru
at
the
helm
and
through
her
bold
innovative
ideas
and
initiatives.
Boston
thrives
to
be
warm
and
welcoming
City
for
everyone.
A
A
We
understand
and
empathize
that
military
families
will
need
different
things
at
different
times
and
experience
different
challenges,
but
one
thing
remains:
consistent
Boston
remains
committed
to
supporting
each
and
every
single
one
of
you
at
this
time.
Ladies
and
gentlemen,
I
want
to
bring
up
our
mayor.
Who
has
these
innovative
ideas?
Mayor
Michelle,
Wu.
E
Thank
you,
commissioner,
good
morning,
everyone
and
thank
you
so
much
to
director
chin
as
well,
for
your
service
greetings
to
my
colleagues
and
friends
on
the
city
council
and
in
city
government,
Commander,
Farrell
and
all
of
the
service
members
here
today
to
all
the
family
members.
Thank
you
for
your
leadership.
Thank
you
for
what
you
do
to
make
our
freedoms
and
our
country
possible.
E
I
want
to
just
lift
up
the
tireless
advocacy
that
is
represented
by
those
who
are
in
the
space
and
and
the
organizations
that
we
are
proud
to
partner
with.
Thank
you
for
serving
our
service
members
and
blue
star
families.
For
more
than
a
century,
the
blue
star
has
brought
the
families
of
service
members
closer.
E
It
is
for
you
that
our
service
members
give
so
much
of
themselves,
and
it
is
because
of
you
that
they
are
able
to,
on
behalf
of
the
city
of
Boston
and
as
a
token
of
the
gratitude
that
we
share
for
all
that
you've
done
and
all
that
you
continue
to
do.
I'm,
honored
to
present
a
proclamation
today
and
distribute
some
of
our
challenge
coins
to
family
members
as
we
raise
this
flag
together.
Thank
you
so
much
for
your
leadership
and
for
being
here.
A
Thank
you
mayor
will
for
recognizing
all
our
armed
forces
and
our
military
spouses
and
families
as
well
before
we
continue
with
the
of
raising
of
the
flag.
I
also
want
to
acknowledge
and
recognize
the
team
at
Boston
Veterans
Services
they
I
could
can't
do
this
alone
and
I
have
a
great
team
that
works
at
Veterans
Services
that
Advocates
and
engages
with
our
veterans
and
Military
community.
So
here
today
we
have
the
director
of
policy
and
Outreach
Connor
friend.
A
Community
relations,
specialist,
Pilar
Delgado,
who
bitter
who
is
moving
on
and
will
be
going
into
another
department
within
the
city
of
Boston
with
the
special
events,
but
we
have
it
for
a
couple
more
days.
Pilauer
are
you?
Oh
there
you
are
okay,
we
have
our
transition
and
integration
Advocate
and
Air
Force
veteran
Latasha,
White.
A
F
All
right
we're
gonna,
bring
the
command
teams
up
to
finish
up
the
the
cranking.
So,
let's,
if
Commander
Farrell,
would
come
up
with
command
master
sergeant,
chief,
petty
officer,
miles,
Lieutenant,
Colonel,
shimko
and
senior
master
sergeant,
Rivers
and
Commander
cars
and
master
chief,
petty
officer,
fullwood
awesome.