►
From YouTube: Army Week Kickoff Ceremony
Description
Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker join the Office of Veterans Services to celebrate the commencement of the first ever Army Week in the City of Boston.
A
A
My
name
is
Robert
Santiago
I'm
acting
commissioner
of
the
city
of
Boston
office
of
veteran
services,
and
it
is
my
honor
to
be
the
master
of
ceremonies
for
today's
kickoff.
I
would
like
to
welcome
our
distinguished
guest,
also
like
to
welcome
councilor
city
councilor,
ed
Flynn
and
Secretary
of
the
Department
of
Veterans
Services
here
in
Massachusetts
Francisco,
you
Reyna
and
everyone
else
here
today.
Today
we
marked
the
start
of
the
first-ever
Army
week
here
in
the
city
of
Boston.
A
The
Commonwealth
of
Massachusetts
in
the
city
of
Boston
has
a
rich
history,
preserving
Liberty
and
providing
for
the
nation's
defense.
Throughout
the
course
of
our
nation's
history.
Some
of
the
finest
leaders
of
our
military
have
come
from
the
Boston
area.
We
set
aside
the
special
time
today
to
welcome
and
honor
our
army
and
its
soldiers
over
the
coming
week
here
in
the
great
and
historical
city
of
Boston.
At
this
time
it
is
my
pleasure
to
introduce
Massachusetts
governor
governor
Charlie
Baker.
B
Thank
you
very
much,
and
let
me
just
start
on
behalf
of
the
people
of
Massachusetts
by
welcoming
the
members
of
the
army
here
for
army
week,
and
let
me
just
start
by
saying
I
know:
I
speak
with
gratitude
to
the
men
and
women
who
currently
serve
in
uniform
and
those
who
have
served
dating
all
the
way
back
to
the
beginning.
Most
people
know
that
in
1636
the
First
National
Guard
mustered
took
place
in
Salem,
Massachusetts
and
they'll
be
celebrating
their
400th
anniversary
sometime,
not
too
far
away.
B
We
call
democracy
only
have
that
opportunity
to
do
so
because
of
the
men
and
women
and
their
families,
who,
in
many
cases,
have
paid
the
ultimate
price
for
our
freedom
and
our
opportunity
for
self-governance
to
you
all
who
are
here,
I
hope
you
have
a
wonderful
week.
It
has
been
amazing
to
me,
as
the
state's
chief
executive,
to
get
to
know
just
what
exactly
today's
Army
is
all
about
it's
about
cybersecurity.
B
It's
about
autonomous
vehicles,
it's
about
leveraging
the
technology
genius
that
exists
here
in
the
United
States
of
America,
and
especially
here
in
Massachusetts,
so
that
the
future
of
the
army
can
be
one
that
will
continue
to
make
us
proud
and
to
keep
us
free.
There
are
challenges
that
are
not
just
on
the
battlefield
anymore.
B
The
challenges
that
are
faced
by
the
army
and
by
our
other
men
and
women
in
the
armed
services
run
all
the
way
across
cyber
security
issues,
combat
missions,
other
kinds
of
activities
that
involve
engagements
with
friends
and
enemies
and
in
many
cases
the
and
then
know-how
and
the
technological
expertise
that's
required
to
perform.
These
duties
is
as
high
level
as
it's
ever
been
and
I
know:
I
speak
for
the
people
of
Massachusetts.
B
When
I
talk
about
how
grateful
we
are
for
the
relationships
that
we
have
both
corporate
relationships
working
with
folks
out
at
the
Natick
soldiers
system
in
Natick
or
the
folks
working
at
the
northeastern
facility
in
Hwa
Pham
with
the
army
or
many
of
the
other
examples
of
partnership
and
collaboration.
I,
know
you're
going
over
to
Lincoln
labs
later.
That
is,
in
many
respects
the
crown
jewel
of
the
technological
infrastructure
that
we
provide
to
our
men
and
women
in
the
Armed
Services.
B
B
A
C
Thank
you
very
much
Robin.
Thank
you
for
all
your
great
work.
I
want
to
thank
Governor
Baker
for
being
here
with
us
today,
city
councilor,
ed
Flynn,
who
himself
as
a
veteran.
Thank
you,
council,
Flynn
to
the
US
Army.
It's
an
honor
to
have
you
here
in
the
city
of
Boston
I
want
to
welcome
you
here
for
the
first
ever
Army
Week
in
the
city
of
Boston,
and
we're
excited
about
that
here
in
our
city.
C
Here
in
Boston,
we
have
the
utmost
respect
for
our
military
men
and
women
in
our
veterans,
as
Rob
mentioned,
Boston
has
a
proud
military
history
and,
as
the
governor
said,
Massachusetts
is
a
proud
military
legacy.
The
fight
for
liberty
started
right
here
on
our
streets
here
in
Boston.
Since
then,
we've
been
home
to
generation
of
Patriots,
our
brave
men
and
women
have
continued
to
put
their
lives
on
the
line
to
protect
our
city
in
our
country,
and
we
will
never
take
them
for
granted.
C
Boston
is
home
to
the
military
entrance
processing
station,
one
of
65
in
the
country,
with
people
who
are
listed
in
to
introduce
inducted
into
the
army
every
year.
More
than
11,000
people
go
through
this
station
here
in
the
city
and
more
than
5,000
of
those
are
Army,
we're
also
home
to
one
of
the
largest
veterans
community,
nearly
17,000
veterans,
right
here
in
the
city
of
Boston.
It's
a
special
community
that
continues
to
grow
every
single
year.
C
If
they
need
them
as
they
come
home
and
get
really
into
life,
we
tell
them
that
day
that
breakfast
and
every
day
that
Boston
will
always
support
you
and
the
best
way
we
show
our
appreciation
to
them
is
their
sacrifice
is
by
having
this
breakfast
for
breakfast
for
their
actions,
not
only
for
them,
but
also
for
their
families.
We
work
to
make
sure
that
all
of
our
men
and
women
have
a
smooth
transition
back
to
life
and
those
that
need
additional
services.
We
make
sure
they
get
those
services
that
are
available
to
them.
C
That
means
helping
our
veterans
get
access
to
vital
services
such
as
housing,
education,
health
care,
workforce
training.
It
means
making
sure
that
no
veteran
has
ever
forgotten
or
left
on
the
streets
of
our
city.
Boston
was
a
proud
city
that
in
2015
we
took
up
the
challenge
to
end
chronic
veterans,
homelessness
in
our
city
and
by
the
end
of
that
year.
We're
able
to
accomplish
that
we're
also
gonna
reach
out
to
all
of
our
veterans
and
make
sure
they
have
the
resources
that
they
need
and
deserve.
C
We
also
never
missed
an
opportunity
to
say
thank
you
this
weekend.
If
any
of
you
were
here
in
Boston,
think
you're
all
going
to
be
here
in
Boston,
we
have
something
that's
called
operation.
Thank
event:
it's
our
biggest
veteran
outreach
campaign
where
we
gather
and
we
get
lists
of
veterans
that
live
in
the
city
we
go
to
their
house.
We
knock
on
the
door.
We
give
them
a
challenge
coin.
We
give
them
the
services
that
they're
available
for,
and
we
thank
them
for
their
service.
C
We'll
be
doing
this
now
for
several
years
here
in
the
city
of
Boston,
and
one
of
the
first
experiences
I
heard
of
this
program
is
one
of
our
volunteers
once
who
a
veteran's
home
was
a
veteran
of
Vietnam
War
and
he
started
crying
at
the
front
door.
This
was
this
was
in
2017,
he
was
crying
cuz.
No
one
ever
thanked
him
for
his
service
to
our
country.
So
it's
another
important
aspect
in
the
city
of
Boston.
So
far
we
reached
over
3,000
veterans
through
our
program.
C
We
deliver
information
packets
and
we
want
to
make
sure
that
that
they
feel
welcome,
and
we
invite
all
of
you
if
you're
around
on
Saturday
and
you're
not
doing
exercise
you're
more
than
welcome
to
join
us
and
I
guarantee
you,
you
will
get
an
experience
that
that
will
be
one
one
in
one
in
a
lifetime.
Experience
to
thank
a
veteran
Boston
is
always
deep
has
deep
respect
and
admiration
for
our
military
and
our
veterans
community.
We
are
proud
to
grow
our
legacy
as
a
city
of
Patriots.
C
C
At
the
ceremony,
I
know
they're
going
to
be
mentioned
in
a
minute,
but
we
have
general
officers
from
each
of
the
companies
of
the
army
representing
the
Massachusetts
National
God
adjutant
general
Major,
General
Gary
Keith
I,
want
to
thank
you,
general
key
for
being
with
us
today,
representing
the
Army
serve
as
Major
General
Mark
Paul,
sir
commander
of
the
99th
readiness
division.
I
want
to
thank
you
for
being
with
us
today
and
representing
an
active
army
is
brigadier
general
Vincent.
C
Malone
I
want
to
thank
you
for
being
here,
deputy
commanding
general
of
the
Army
Research
and
Development
commands
in
the
senior
commander
in
the
Natick
soldiers
sent
Senior
Systems,
Center
and
I
want
to
thank
you
all
today
and
I
just
want
to
apologize
one
other
thing.
We
were
invited
to
jump
out
of
a
plane
and
I
said
I
said
I
would
love
to,
but
the
governor
didn't
want
to
so
I
said:
I
won't
bother
I'm
just
kidding.
Neither
one
of
us
have
the
excitement
to
jump
out
of
a
plane.
C
A
Thank
You
mayor
Walsh
and
just
to
let
everybody
know
thank
you
for
making
me
think
of
it.
We
will
be
in
the
neighborhood
of
Dorchester
this
weekend
on
Saturday
of
the
13th.
So
at
this
time
I
would
like
to
welcome
Major
General
Gary
Keith
who's,
the
adjutant
general
of
your
Massachusetts
National
Guard.
D
Good
afternoon
everyone
I
gotta,
tell
you
one
of
the
the
biggest
privilege
in
my
life
is
when
Governor
Baker
made
me
the
43rd
adjutant
general
Massachusetts,
and
gave
me
an
opportunity
to
get
to
know
roughly
our
8400
soldiers
airmen,
but
really
that's
6,400
soldiers
that
that
I
get
to
work
with
every
day
as
governor
Baker
and
Mayor
Walsh
both
spoke
about,
you
will
not
find
a
more
patriotic
city
or
a
more
patriotic
state
or
Commonwealth
in
Massachusetts.
It's.
It
is
very
telling
that
the
first-ever
Patriot
we
an
army.
We
kicked
off
here
in
Boston
Massachusetts.
D
As
was
mentioned.
This
is
a
not
just
the
cradle
of
freedom,
but
it
is
the
cradle
of
innovation.
You
will
not
find
a
more
creative
or
innovative
hub
anywhere
else
in
this
country
than
here
in
Boston.
Massachusetts
we've
been
the
first
in
many
many
things,
as
the
governor
mentioned,
December
13
1636
is
when
the
National
Guard
US
Army
and
the
entire
military
of
our
free
nation
traces,
its
roots
to
today
in
the
army,
we
have
the
four
oldest
army
units.
The
lineage
from
1636
is
carried
with
the
the
first
battalion
of
the
100.
D
Massachusetts
National
Guardsmen
have
fought
in
all
our
wars
from
the
revolution
to
present
day
the
war
on
terror.
We
are
called
the
nation's
first
in
the
Massachusetts
Army
guard,
not
because
of
1636,
but
during
the
Great
War
World
War,
one,
which
we
celebrate
the
centennial
this
past
year.
The
Yankee
division
was
the
first
to
good
overseas,
led
by
General,
Logan
and
general
Edwards.
D
This
past
year,
December
18th
domestic
operations,
the
Massachusetts
National
Guard,
had
215
domestic
operations
throughout
the
Commonwealth.
218
marked
the
busiest
time
for
our
civil
support
and
our
weapons
of
mass
destruction
team
out
of
50
17s
across
the
country
they
had
the
most
with
188
domestic
security
missions.
The
Massachusetts
National
Guard
asprova
is
tasked
with
providing
100%
of
the
requested
army
funeral
honors
in
Massachusetts.
My
team
of
36
accomplish
4131
funeral
honors
for
Army
veterans.
D
Last
year
alone,
the
Massachusetts
national
drug
counter
drug
team
seized
861
thousand
worth
of
assets
and
counterdrug
operations
as
part
of
our
domestic
mission.
Last
year
as
well
and
today,
Massachusetts
and
guard
has
got
men
and
women
all
over
the
world
from
Eastern
Europe,
the
Balkans
to
Africa
Central
America,
South
America.
We
are
here
to
take
care
of
domestic
operations
for
the
governor
and
the
mayor
when
needed
and
all
the
Commonwealth.
At
the
same
time,
we
join
one
team,
one
fight.
When
we
deploy
overseas.
It's
really
important
for
everyone
to
understand.
D
It
does
not
say
Army,
National
Guard
above
the
left
breast.
It
does
not
say
Army
Reserve,
it
does
not
say
active
duty
Army.
It
says
US
Army
when
you
deploy.
You
cannot
tell
the
difference
between
the
active
duty,
the
guard
or
the
reserve.
It
is
truly
one
team,
one
fight,
and
that
is
very,
very
important.
D
So
I
want
to
thank
you
for
allowing
me
the
privilege,
sir,
to
serve
as
the
adjutant
general
and
get
to
know
my
soldiers
and
get
to
know
all
these
soldiers,
and
you
have
my
you're
my
pledge
that
we
will
do
everything
we
can
not
just
during
army
week,
but
for
the
years
ahead
to
make
sure
that
you,
men
and
women
that
are
now
about
1%
of
our
population,
that
you
raise
your
right
hand.
You
swear
that
same
oath
that
we
all
swear.
D
A
E
So
I'm
very
honored
to
be
here
I
want
to
thank
you
all
for
the
great
reception
we
received.
It's
truly
a
privilege
to
represent
the
United
States
Army
Reserve
here
at
Faneuil,
Hall
Army
Reserve
has
a
strong
presence
in
Boston
and
throughout
Massachusetts
nearly
3,500
Reserve
soldiers
and
their
families
reside
in
this
state
of
Massachusetts
over
70
army
reserve
units,
and
we
actually
were
spread
out
across
the
entire
state,
from
Springfield
to
Boston
actually
from
the
Berkshires
to
Boston.
But
it
was
picking
a
city
for
you.
E
Nearly
20
army
reserve
training
facilities,
including
the
barns
billing
on
Summer
Street,
which
we've
had
a
few
discussions
about,
and
Devon's
Reserve
Forces
training
area
located
less
than
40
miles
west
of
Boston,
which
truly
it's
a
1
army.
I
think
we
we
provide
support
there
for
not
just
the
army,
all
components
of
the
army,
but
also
Air,
Force
FBI
and
a
number
of
other
three-letter
agencies
that
work
and
are
able
to
train
there.
E
What
this
means
for
you
is
that
the
Army
Reserve
is
poised,
positioned
and
ready
to
serve
America's
citizens
at
home
and
defend
freedom
abroad.
The
Army
Reserve
is
about
to
celebrate
its
111th
birthday.
We
were
created
just
prior
to
World,
War,
1
and
primarily
at
the
time.
It
was
because
we
needed
more
doctors,
because,
obviously
you
need
more
doctors
during
wartime
than
you
do
during
peacetime
and
it's
grown
from
there
to
be
a
a
huge
at
the
time
strategic
force,
and
now
it's
become
much
more
operational
for
more
than
a
century.
E
The
Army
Reserve
has
played
a
key
role
in
defending
our
nation.
Army
Reserve
Soldiers
have
been
part
of
every
major
conflict
dating
back
to
World
War
one
since
September
11th
2001,
more
than
300
thousand
Army
Reserve
Soldiers,
have
answered
their
nation's
call.
The
Army
Reserve
provides
soldiers
everywhere
in
America
and
across
7/8
of
the
Earth's
surface,
covering
30
countries
and
20
times,
and
nearly
200,000
soldiers
and
350,000
dependents.
As
commanding
general
of
the
Army
Reserves
99th
readiness
division,
I
provide
support
to
44,000
Army
Reserve
soldiers
and
their
families
in
the
13
northeastern
states.
E
Readiness
is
key.
Units
must
be
ready
to
deploy
quickly
when
our
nation
calls
the
Army
Reserve
is
moving
to
a
new
model
of
operational
readiness
in
order
to
continue
to
support
the
total
army
and
joint
force.
It's
more
ready.
It's
more
ready
to
support
large-scale
combat
operations
on
short
notice,
America's
Army
Reserve
must
remain
the
most
capable
combat,
ready
and
lethal
Federal
Reserve
Force
in
the
nation's
history.
We
cannot
do
this.
We
cannot
do
what
we
do
without
support
from
our
elected
officials,
our
business
partners,
military
families,
community
leaders
and
veterans
organizations.
E
You
are
the
lifeblood
of
keeping
us
going,
you're,
also
a
huge
boost
to
our
ability
to
recruit
young
young
men
and
women
who
want
to
serve
their
nation.
You
are
the
key
to
our
continued
success
as
an
army
and
as
a
nation.
Please
continue
to
support
our
armed
forces
in
the
21st
century,
as
Americans
have
done
throughout
our
nation's
history.
May
God
bless
you,
your
families
and
the
United
States
of
America.
Thank
you.
A
F
Governor
Baker
Tamara
Walsh
mr.
Concannon
generals,
Keith
Paul's,
our
distinguished
guest,
it's
really
an
honor
to
be
here
this
week
to
be
here
today
for
the
kickoff
of
Army
week.
This
is
an
opportunity
for
our
army
to
get
out
and
tell
its
story,
because
in
the
army,
our
people,
our
soldiers,
our
greatest
asset,
but
without
the
trust
and
the
confidence
and
the
support
of
the
American
people.
F
We
cannot
maintain
our
all-volunteer
army
and
that's
where
all
of
you
come
in
those
in
uniform
those
in
suit
and
ties.
Today,
we
all
need
to
support.
The
reality
is
less
than
1%
of
America's.
Population
serves
in
the
Armed
Forces
today,
however,
of
that
79
percent
that
do
serve
have
family
members
that
have
served,
and
why
is
that?
F
Well,
that's
because
they
have
a
chance
to
hear
the
Army's
story.
So
I'll
take
just
a
brief
moment
to
tell
you
a
little
bit
of
my
Army's
story
when
I
joined
the
Army
team
as
a
cadet,
my
plan
was
to
serve
no
more
than
five
years
next
month.
I'll
celebrate
30
years
of
service
to
the
army.
I
continue
to
serve
continue
to
serve
then
I
continue
to
serve
today,
because
to
me
the
Army
has
been
exciting.
F
Many
people
don't
realize
that
the
research
and
technology
developed
behind
Kevlar,
fibers,
advanced
body,
armor
and
high
nutrition,
long
shelf
life
foods
just
to
name
a
few
that
research
and
development
was
conducted
just
west
of
here
by
the
soldiers
and
the
civilians
and
Natick
labs.
But
these
experience
are
not
unique
to
me.
The
Army
offers
over
150
career
opportunities,
50
alone
in
the
medical
field.
F
99%
have
related
civilian
credentials
and
last
year
alone,
6900
soldiers
completed
their
degrees
while
serving
and
the
benefits
aren't
bad
either
competitive
salaries
and
medical
coverage
30
days
paid
leave
the
GI
Bill
for
college
education
and,
of
course,
the
option
to
retire
after
20
years
of
service,
not
bad,
so
I
encourage
all
of
you
to
come
out
and
meet
the
army.
You
haven't
met
an
experienced
army
innovation
for
yourself
at
some
of
this
week's
events,
the
army,
cyber
and
northeast
University
will
host
a
cyber
security.
F
Symposium
MIT
Lincoln
labs
will
offer
a
rare
look
into
its
military
research
and
development
projects.
Also
at
MIT,
leaders
of
the
army,
academia
and
industry
will
come
together
to
discuss
how
the
army
is
shaping
the
future
across
various
domains
and
Saturdays
Army
Expo
on
Boston
Commons
you'll
see
the
Army's
Special
Operations
jump
team,
the
black
daggers
complete
a
parachute
jump
demo.
F
A
Thank
you
for
getting
our
general
Malone.
On
this
occasion.
The
Commonwealth
of
Massachusetts
and
the
City
of
Boston
would
like
to
dedicate
April
8th
through
April
15th
as
Army
Regan,
Governor,
Baker
and
Mayor
Walsh
will
present
official
proclamations,
dedicating
the
coming
week,
which
leads
into
Patriots
Day
one
Boston
day
and,
of
course,
Marathon
Monday,
as
Army
League
Boston
I'm,
just
going
to
read
a
quick
excerpt
from
both
of
them.
A
Therefore
I
Martin,
J
Walsh,
mayor
of
Boston,
do
hereby
proclaim
April
8th
through
April
15th
2019
to
be
army
week
in
the
city
of
Boston.
I
urge
all
my
fellow
Bostonians
to
join
me
in
recognizing
the
United
States
Army
Army
Reserve
and
Army
National
Guard's
contributions
in
providing
for
the
common
defense
of
the
city
of
Boston,
signed
Martin,
J
Walsh,
mayor
of
Boston
on
April,
8th
2019.
A
A
Ladies
and
gentlemen,
thank
you
all
for
joining
us
on
this
historical
occasion,
as
we
mark
the
first
ever
Army
week
here
in
the
city
of
Boston.
If
you're
interested
in
learning
more
about
the
Army
you
haven't
met
yet
you're
invited
to
attend
the
Army
Expo
at
Parkman
bandstand
in
Boston
Common,
this
Saturday
from
9:30
a.m.
to
5:30
a.m.
now.
Please
remain
standing
for
the
departure
of
the
official
party.