►
Description
The New England Center and Home for Veterans celebrates the renovation of its over 100 year old building in Downtown Boston. Upgrades include 37 new state-of-the-art units, a new Veterans Training School, a dedicated floor for female veterans, and a reconstructed medical clinic.
A
Good
afternoon
and
welcome
to
the
ribbon-cutting
ceremony
for
the
New,
England,
Center
and
home
for
veterans,
permanent
supportive
housing
and
recapitalization
project
on
behalf
of
the
chairman
of
the
board,
mr.
Joe
Albanese
and
the
center's
Board
of
Directors.
It
is
my
honor
to
welcome
and
thank
you
in
celebration
of
this
milestone
and
to
recognize
the
distinguished
speakers
and
public
leaders
here
with
us
this
afternoon,
congressman
Lynch
governor
Baker,
Speaker,
Taleo,
Mara,
Walsh
secretary
Sutter's,
senator
dur,
Cena,
4e,
representative
Harris,
Ella
Chief,
Dylan,
secretary
Urania,
Commissioner,
sterling
Vice,
Admiral,
Massenburg,
government
officials,
community
and
business
leaders.
A
B
A
C
Good
afternoon,
ladies
and
gentlemen,
I
would
also
like
to
welcome
all
of
you
here
this
afternoon
and
thank
you
for
coming
and
helping
us
mark
and
celebrate
this
important
and
happy
milestone
for
the
project
for
the
new
england,
center
and
home,
for
veterans
and
for
veterans.
Overall,
it
was
almost
four
years
ago
in
August
of
2013,
when
we
were
first
applying
to
the
city
of
Boston
for
the
initial
approval
to
just
commence
the
development
work
for
this
project.
C
The
members
of
the
Boston
Redevelopment
Authority
review
board
asked
me
just
one
question:
when
I
stood
before
them,
they
asked
me
whether
we
would
be
able
to
continue
to
serve
veterans
and
provide
support.
While
we
accomplished
the
construction
of
the
envisioned
project.
My
answer
was
a
confident
and
unequivocal
equivocal.
Yes,
now
I'm,
not
sure
that
I
really
had
that
strong
confidence
in
my
answer
at
the
time,
certainly
as
I
meant
to
convey-
or
perhaps
it
was
a
confidence
born
of
ignorance.
C
It
has
very
much
been
a
complex
challenge
over
the
last
two
years,
but
because
of
the
remarkable
and
dedicated
work
of
the
project
team,
the
staff
of
the
center,
the
assistance
of
our
community
partners.
We
have
completely
renewed
this
100
year
old,
building
from
its
roots
to
its
roof,
and
not
one
veteran
service
was
interrupted,
nor
any
veteran
displaced
in
their
home
either
permanent
or
transitional.
C
Now
that
is
not
to
say
that
that
routine
and
life
here
were
not
disrupted
and
made
uncomfortable,
sometimes
very
uncomfortable
at
times.
Anyone
who
has
that
a
contractor
in
their
home
can
attest
to
that
fact.
I
must
credit
the
patience
and
forbearance
of
the
veterans
living
here
in
receiving
services
here
at
the
center
over
the
last
few
years,
who
graciously
and
selflessly
endured
the
work
of
this
invasive
project,
so
that
generations
of
veterans
to
come
will
have
this
new
and
invaluable
resource
in
their
time
of
need.
C
We
gathered
this
afternoon
to
officially
mark
the
completion
of
the
construction
and
to
open
the
center
after
its
transformational
renovation
to
figuratively
and
literally
cut
the
ribbon.
However,
it
is
pretty
clear
without
looking
too
closely
around
you,
that
there
is
work
here
on
the
project
that
remains
some
of
it
is
behind
the
curtains
and
banners
there's
a
hole
up
there.
Actually
behind
the
flag,
and
some
you
can
see
it
right
in
the
front
of
the
building
you
can
see
the
scaffolding
is
still
there.
C
It
is
true
that
we
have
some
important,
finishings
and
touch-ups
to
complete,
but
I
would
also
offer
that,
as
I
said,
the
center
has
never
actually
closed.
It
has
remained
open
for
service
and
support
and
that
the
most
important
impactful
areas
of
this
new
building
in
this
new
Veterans
Center,
the
apartment
homes,
the
new
classrooms,
the
new
dormitories,
the
new
medical
clinic,
the
new
counseling
spaces,
have
all
been
completed
and
have
been
open
for
months
some
for
more
than
a
year.
C
They
have
been
open
and
working
and
enabling
the
center
staff
to
make
real
and
positive
impacts
in
veterans
lives,
and
they
have
been
serving
as
new
and
modern
supportive
homes
to
veterans.
So,
although
we
do
have
just
a
little
more
to
do
here,
I
believe
that
today
is
an
appropriate
and
a
great
time
to
mark
an
opening
of
an
outstanding
resource
for
veterans,
a
visionary
accomplishment
of
this
community,
this
city,
this
Commonwealth
and
our
nation.
C
The
project
team,
the
Center's
partners
and
the
staff
here
at
the
New
England
Center
have
accomplished
the
more
than
two
years
of
work
and
construction
to
effect,
this
remarkable
transformation-
and
today
we
are
here
to
mark
that,
but
mostly
today,
we
are
here
to
recognize
honor
and
thank
those
those
people
and
institutions
that
have
made
this
project
and
the
day-to-day
work
of
the
New
England
Center
possible.
We
are
here
too.
C
To
thank
the
original
founders
of
the
center,
and
we
have
mr.
mark
Helberg
with
us
today,
the
founder
those
founders,
whose
visionary,
enterprising
and
inspired
Vietnam
veterans
who,
after
returning
home
from
their
service
and
their
war,
formed
this
institution
from
nothing
and
made
it
flourish
and
serve
without
them.
We
would
not
be
here.
Thank
you.
C
We're
here
to
thank
the
generous
and
pioneering
donors
to
the
project's
capital
campaign,
the
private
citizens,
foundations
and
companies
that
recognize
the
need,
helped
us
develop
the
vision
and
contributed
so
generously
to
the
capital
campaign
that
built
a
five
and
a
half
million
dollar
private
funding,
Corps
upon
which
the
public
funding
could
build
and
leverage.
My
million
dollar
contributors
are
here
with
us
this
afternoon,
the
ruby,
W
and
LaVon
Parker
Lynn
foundation
for
the
naming
of
the
ninth
floor
apartments,
as
well
as
the
Colonel
Ruby
W,
Lynn
veterans,
dining
hall,
mr.
William
Lowell
trustee.
C
C
And
thank
you
also
to
the
with
who
are
with
us
this
afternoon.
Many
of
the
leadership
capital
campaign,
donors,
Stevie
and
David's
penis,
the
amilia
Peabody
Charitable,
Trusts
Lori,
and
rod
rota
Stephen
and
Marianne
Philips,
the
Arbella
Insurance
Foundation,
as
well
as
the
many
members
of
our
board
of
directors,
and
so
many
other
very
generous
philanthropic
institutions,
foundations
and
individuals
in
the
community.
You
can
see
their
names
throughout
the
building
and
I
hope
you
have
a
chance
to
do
that.
This
project
has
been
a
transformation.
C
The
center
is
also
part
of
the
fulfillment
of
a
pledge
made
by
this
country
and
its
citizens
to
those
who
serve
the
pledge
that,
in
return
for
the
service
and
risks
and
sacrifice
of
military
service,
this
country
will
support
veterans
and
stand
by
them.
Regardless
of
what
may
happen
after
their
services
can
be
completed,
the
center
will
be
a
resource
for
veterans
provided
by
the
people
of
Boston
and
the
Commonwealth
of
Massachusetts
to
serve
veterans
for
years
and
decades
to
come
throughout
the
21st
century.
C
Almost
thirty
five
million
dollars
in
net
construction
and
redevelopment
funding
veterans
become
veterans
by
serving
the
nation
in
the
United
States
military.
This
New
England
Center
does
not
limited
services
to
veterans
from
Boston
or
from
Massachusetts,
is
a
national
resource
and
is
strongly
supported
by
the
federal
government.
Much
of
our
annual
funding,
as
well
as
the
capital
funding
for
this
project
appropriately,
is
resourced
to
Washington
DC.
C
The
center
could
not
have
a
more
committed
advocate
and
representative
in
Washington
a
strong
leader
in
support
of
veterans
and
their
families
than
our
own
congressman,
Steven
Lynn,
congressman
Lynch
has
been
with
and
behind
this
project.
In
the
center's
mission,
right
from
the
start,
he
and
his
staff
have
remained
in
constant
with
us
in
the
project
team
through
the
construction
and
just
as
importantly,
in
the
work
and
advocacy
leading
up
to
the
construction.
We
are
honored
to
welcome
congressman
Lynch
back
to
the
center
and
thank
him
for
his
consistent
and
unflagging
support.
D
Thank
you
very
much.
Andrew
and
I
have
to
say
this
place.
Look
a
lot
better
than
the
last
time.
I
was
here.
We
had
a
winter
storm
that
blew
in
here
and,
of
course,
we've
got
our
veterans
living
here,
so
it
was
a
little
bit
of
a
panic
but
Andrew
on
so
many
occasions
has
come
to
the
rescue
of
our
veterans
and
yet
again
he's
doing
it.
D
Here
again
today,
my
colleagues
in
government,
governor
Baker,
made
a
wall
speak
of
Leo,
senator
Tina,
4e,
representative
Aaron,
Michael,
wits
and
also
representative
Jerry
Parris
Ella
I
also
want
to
recognize
someone.
We
work
with
on
a
regular
basis
on
Veterans
issues,
secretary
Francisco
Urena,
who
I
first
met
in
Iraq
many
years
ago
and
Commissioner
Giselle
Stirling,
who
do
this
work
on
a
daily
basis?
They
are
really
they're
the
people
on
the
ground,
along
with
Tom,
Lyons
and
I,
see
kick
our
friend
Gabe
Gomez
down
there
as
well.
D
Who
does
wonderful
work
on
a
on
our
behalf,
so
thank
you
to
all
of
you
for
the
great
work
that
you
do
at
this.
At
the
forefront
of
all
this
effort
was
really
governor,
Baker
and
mayor
Walsh
and
Speaker
Tulio.
They
were
the
ones
that
that
said,
the
resources
we
we
have
to
find
the
resources-
and
it
really
is
a
this
project-
is
really
a
private
and
public
partnership.
D
A
federal
state
and
city
partnership
and
I'm,
just
I'm
happy
to
have
played
a
small
part,
and
this
as
well,
but
I
really
think
that
without
the
leadership
of
governor
Baker
and
mayor
Walsh
and
Speaker,
the
legal,
this
would
not
have
happened
and
it
really
speaks
to
their
commitment
to
our
veterans.
This
project
is
more
needed
than
ever.
D
Typically,
they'll
get
a
small
group,
maybe
50
or
60
Marines
or
soldiers
together
and
I'll,
say
how
many
you
hear
on
their
first
tour
of
duty
and
it's
sort
of
a
conversation
I
have
with
them,
but
also
on
taking
in
data
to
see
how
many,
how
many
are
on
the
first
second
tour
of
duty.
So
I
asked
how
many
are
on
your
first
tour
and
maybe
out
of
40
50.
There
might
be
eight
on
their
first
tour
duty
and
I
say
how
many
on
their
second
tour
of
duty
and
a
few
more
hands
go
up.
D
This
trip
this
last
trip
three
weeks
ago,
I
get
up
to
9
towards
the
duty
before
I
ran
out
of
Marines
9
tours
of
duty
so
think
about
it.
They're
doing
nine-month
tours
this
is
his
ninth,
this
young
marine
ninth
tour
duty
when
being
on
the
battlefield
becomes
the
norm.
We
have
a
problem
and
the
problem
is
oftentimes
that
the
transition
home
is
is
the
outlier
that
that
the
normal
pace
and
circumstances
for
that
young
soldier
on
marine
is
the
battlefield,
and
so
we've
seen
tremendous
difficulty
in
transitioning
men
and
women
home
across
the
country.
D
D
That
is
changing
the
way.
We
welcome
all
my
sons
and
daughters.
Not
only
will
it
provide
a
home
for
200
veterans,
but
also
the
education,
the
transition
bringing
them
back
to
what
should
be
a
normal
civilian
life,
and
we
can
do
this.
It's
very
difficult.
We
work
a
lot
with
the
VA
I've
got
three
wonderful
VA
facilities
in
my
district
I've
got
Brockton
to
make
the
plane
and
West
Roxbury
and
I
can't
expect
and
I'm
a
frequent
flyer
to
the
VA.
D
Tbi
traumatic,
Jane
is
Romanian,
jury
might
have
a
physical
presentation,
but
sometimes
the
deeper
psychiatric
wounds
are
more
difficult
to
diagnose,
and
so
we
need
to
get
better
at
that.
We've
got
a
we've,
get
a
build
protocols
that
will
will
help
us
to
more
accurately
diagnose
the
problem,
and
then
the
treatment,
but
this
place
will
help
this
place
will
help
enormously.
Then
a
winglet
center
and
home
for
veterans
will
help.
This
will
be
a
gateway.
D
C
E
Thank
you
very
much
Indian
to
to
you
and
your
team
in
to
Joe
and
to
the
members
of
the
board.
I
just
want
to
say
congratulations
on
a
job
and
I'm
work
extremely
well
done
and
to
the
folks
here
who
made
up
the
private
participation
in
this,
which
was
very,
which
is
very
significant,
almost
in
some
respects,
almost
unprecedented
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
all
of
you
and
I
know
several
of
you
actually
served
in
the
military
as
well.
E
This
is
this
is
a
little
slice
of
heaven
compared
to
what
this
place
once
was
and
I
think
in
some
ways.
That's
because
of
the
the
commitment
that
so
many
people,
and
so
many
organizations
made
to
this
and
Andy
you're
kind
to
point
out
the
role
that
the
Commonwealth
played
here.
But
there
were,
there
were
a
lot
of
hands
in
this
one:
secretary,
Mary
Lou
Sutter's
from
Health
and
Human
Services
J
ash
from
Housing
and
Economic
Development
crystal
Kornegay
from
the
Department
of
Housing
and
Community
Development
Tim
Sullivan
from
mass
housing.
E
E
This
doesn't
happen
without
the
federal
government
and
it
doesn't
happen
without
people
like
you
who
never
forget
and
are
always
there
to
stand
up
for
and
advocate
on
behalf
of
the
men
and
women
in
uniform
and
the
fact
that
you've
taken
18
trips
to
Afghanistan
kind
of
says
it
all
in
some
respects,
with
how
you
feel
about
the
men
and
women
who
serve.
So.
Thank
you
very
much
for
all
the
you
time.
E
And
this
is
another
one
I
go
way
back
with
to
my
time,
working
in
the
90s
and
and
I'll
tell
you
something
the
the
facility
there
may
be
old,
okay,
but
it
is,
it
is
clean
and
it
is
full
of
life
and
full
of
support
and
full
of
a
sense
of
positivity.
You
just
don't
see
in
a
lot
of
other
places
and
and
on
some
level.
I.
E
E
Don't
think
it's
that
far
away
where
every
men
and
every
woman
who's
worn
the
uniform
as
a
bed,
they
can
call
their
own
and
the
support
services
they
need
to
find
their
way
back
into
productive
participation
in
society
and
for
all
the
work
that's
been
done
before
us.
We
don't
have
that
far
to
go
and
I
really
do
think
at
this
point.
This
is
something
we
should
make
clear.
We
deliver
on
over
the
course
of
the
next
few
years.
Thank
you.
C
There
is
no
city
that
is
a
better
place
for
veterans
to
live
or
for
anybody
to
live
than
here
in
Boston.
The
center
is
proud
to
be
part
of
Boston
and
a
resource
integral
to
the
city
of
Boston.
Within
a
few
hours
of
becoming
mayor,
mayor
Walsh
came
to
the
center
for
a
visit
and
a
tour
and
to
show
his
support.
He
keeps
coming
and
keeps
helping.
Boston
is
the
premier
city
in
this
country,
largest
mall,
in
great
measure,
because
of
the
hands-on,
proactive
and
listening
leadership
of
the
mayor
and
his
team.
C
F
Thank
You,
India
and
I'm,
proud
to
be
your
closest
neighbor
I,
want
to
thank
you
fee.
A
great
work
I
want
to
thank
Brian,
and
one
thing
Joe
want
to
thank
the
board
everybody
in
this
room
today
that
had
something
to
do
with
this.
Thank
you
whether
it
was
write,
a
check,
write,
a
big
check,
write
a
small
check
volunteer
time
serve
our
country
whatever
it
was.
Thank
you
very
much
for
what
you've
done.
It's
an
honor
to
be
here
today
with
the
governor
and
with
Stephen
Lynch
I.
F
Remember,
would
see
the
lunch
went
to
his
first
trip
in
Iraq
I
remember
he
called
me
up
and
he
said
I'm
going
to
Iraq
and
it
was
back
in
2002,
and
you
know
since
that
time,
Steve
Lynch
has
constantly
been
that
one
of
the
strongest
advocates
not
only
for
our
veterans
but
for
our
active
military
men
and
women.
So
I
want
to
thank
you
congressman
before
you
continue
to
do.
F
Congresswoman's
talked
about
the
great
benefits
of
massachusetts
to
our
veterans
and
I'm
proud
to
say
it
myself
and
linda
docena
40
when
she
was
in
the
house.
Speaker
Tullio
was
one
of
the
people
that
continue
to
make
sure
that
that
happened,
and
I
want
to
thank
the
speaker
for
his
continued
support
for
our
veterans,
not
just
not
just
a
speaker
of
the
house
but
as
a
state
representative.
Prior
to
that
he's
commitment
to
the
veterans
in
the
veteran
community
is
parallel.
Second
to
none,
so
Thank
You.
Mr.
speaker
pick
we're
done.
F
And
everyone
else
I'm
not
going
to
go
right
down
the
line,
cuz
I
could
go
on
and
on
about
all
of
you
about
something.
But
thank
you.
There's
two
people
that
I'm
going
to
talk
about
a
second
but
again
Andy.
Thank
you,
you
and
Brian,
and
what
you've
done
here
as
Andy
says,
I've
come
into
the
center
a
lot
and
we
do
with
the
next-door
neighbor
and
it's
important
to
come
into
the
center.
F
This
is
a
special
place,
as
you
all
know,
this
very
space
that
you're
sitting
on
I
think
on
Saturday
night
will
be
reopened
to
have
another
quiet
gathering
for
a
little
bit
of
a
one
day
at
a
time,
experience,
strength
and
hope,
and
sometimes
it
all
comes
to
this
place
and
just
sitting
and
watching
a
lot
of
the
veterans
that
state
live
here
will
come
down
and
people
off
the
street.
It's
incredible
to
be
here.
F
I
want
to
thank
the
team
in
the
city,
Sheila
Dell
and
Tom
Gannon
Giselle
sterling
for
that
for
all
of
their
great
work
on
this
project,
Tommy's
over
here,
Thank
You
Tommy
for
the
being
the
project
manager
on
this
project.
Two
years
ago,
as
the
governor
said,
it
seems
like
yesterday,
roughly
almost
two
years
ago,
this
time
we
did
the
groundbreaking
and
in
that
two
years,
I've
had
the
chance
to
come
in
here
and
watch
watch.
This
building
print
be
transformative.
F
If
you
look
around
and
you
look
up
at
the
ceiling-
and
you
see
some
of
the
work
on
top
of
the
columns
that
such
you
see
in
fancy
hotels
in
Boston
and
they
were
able
to
uncover
it
here
to
show
dignity
to
our
veterans.
If
you
look
at
the
floor,
the
flow
is
uncovered
as
well
and
again
another
another
thing
you
see
in
our
fancy
hotels
that
they
try
to
preserve
we're
able
to
preserve
for
our
veterans
for
the
great
work
that
the
construction
companies
is
done.
F
I
want
to
thank
all
of
them
for
their
great
work,
the
Senators,
a
long-standing
partner
with
the
city.
We
are
thankful,
certainly
for
their
commitment
to
our
veterans
in
our
veterans,
community.
Their
commitment
is
demonstrated
everything
they're,
more
than
1,500
veterans
are
assisted
every
single
year
through
these
front
doors
and
250
residents.
F
250
veterans
reside
here
every
night
during
the
past
two
years
of
construction,
as
was
said,
as
Andy
said,
it
was
remarkable
that
they
were
able
to
keep
the
center
open
and
not
lose
one
night
of
allowing
a
veteran
to
stay
here
or
one
service
that
was
provided
to
a
veteran.
That's
a
testament
to
the
staff
in
this
facility,
so
I
want
to
thank
them
for
that.
F
Right
around
Thanksgiving
I
had
a
chance
to
do
a
tour
with
Andy
to
look
at
the
37
new
state-of-the-art
units
and
the
60
renovated
units
upstairs
and
if
an
office
is
going
to
be
a
tour
today.
But
if
you
have
a
chance
to
go
up
and
see
they
didn't
miss
anything,
they
took
care
of
all
of
our
veterans.
Any
veteran
that
needs
to
get
that
will
be
staying
here
will
be
able
to
live
in
a
beautiful
renovated
or
brand-new
house.
F
There's
also
a
fort
dedicated
to
the
women,
our
women
veterans,
something
that's
extremely
important
today
and
the
thoughtfulness
of
that
the
design
of
the
units
in
the
sustainability
of
the
units
and
actually
some
of
the
units
have
a
beautiful
view
of
City
Hall.
The
building
I
am
sorry
to
the
veterans
on
that
side
of
the
building,
but
I
will
try
and
fix
it
up
be
a
little
bit,
but
also
not
only
the
people
living
here,
but
the
education,
the
employment
and
other
services
that
are
here.
F
One
of
the
things
that
I
was
asked
the
question
the
other
day.
What
am
I
once?
What's
our
greatest
accomplishment
and
in
the
first
year
as
being
Marin,
City
or
the
first
three
years-
and
you
know
I
didn't
have
to
think
too
much
about
him.
First
Lady,
Michelle,
Obama
called
on
me
as
around
the
country
to
end
chronic
veterans
homelessness.
F
We
took
her
up
on
that
challenge
called
shield
Dillon
and
we
said:
okay,
let's,
let's
take
up
on
this
challenge
and
one
of
the
first
people
that
I
call.
Then
we
call
was
this
gentleman
to
my
left
and
we
said
we
just
answer
this
call
and
what
are
we
going
to
do
and
we
put
a
bunch
of
people
in
the
room:
Billy
McDonough
was
there
blending
it
down?
He
was
there
from
Pine
Street
in
and
we
took
on
the
challenge
and
we
say:
okay,
we're
going
to
do
this.
F
F
They
are
worthy
of
a
life
of
having
a
home
and
we'll
continue
to
work
with
them
with
this
very
special
home
to
do
that,
and
secondly,
we
are
also
on
our
way
to
ending
all
chronic
homelessness
by
the
year
2018
in
the
city,
to
a
program
called
Boston's
way
home
our
actions
to
end
veterans,
homelessness
and
chronic
homelessness
in
the
city
of
Boston.
Now,
when
a
veteran
becomes
homeless,
we
quickly
get
them
in
our
system
and
we
put
them
on
a
pathway
towards
housing
services.
F
We
couldn't
have
done
any
of
that
without
an
incredible
partner
like
Ian
D
in
this
Center.
Lastly,
I
want
to
speak
about
the
importance
of
this
new
building
being
downtown.
It's
a
strong
symbol
that
we
will
never
let
our
struggling
veterans
go
unnoticed.
We
will
never
forget
their
needs
and
we
will
never
put
their
sacrifice
on
the
back
burner.
Our
veterans
remain
our
top
priority
and
nothing
will
ever
change
that
god
bless
you
and
God
bless
you
nice
day.
C
The
center
is
more
than
a
state
or
city
resource;
it
is
a
regional
and
a
national
service
provider.
It
can
only
function
as
one
because
of
the
unparalleled
resourcing
and
funding
provided
by
the
citizens
of
the
Commonwealth
of
Massachusetts
and
that
funding
and
resourcing
comes
to
the
state's
budget
veterans
in
the
center.
Have
no
stronger,
advocate
no
more
committed
leader
and
champion
on
Beacon
Hill
or
anywhere
than
the
Speaker
of
the
House
Speaker
DeLeo
has
unflexible
inand
federal
affairs
committee
and
ensures
the
financial
support
and
viability
of
the
new
england
center.
C
G
So
congratulations
to
you
and
to
all
those
who
have
anything
to
do
in
making
sure
that
it
was
done
and
done
so
well,
I'm,
so
pleased
to
be
joined.
First
of
all,
I
want
to
mention
some
other
elected
officials
who
are
who
are
here,
who
also
were
very
important
in
making
sure
that
we
have
the
support
of
our
veterans
in
the
Commonwealth.
My
state,
senator
by
the
way
Jovan
Cory
is
here.
Welcome,
Joe,
the
chairman
of
housing
for
the
Senate.
G
Know
Massachusetts
is
known
for
so
many
things
and,
as
was
stated
earlier,
a
number
of
times
in
terms
of
those
subjects
of
which
we
were
always
considered.
The
number
one
state
in
the
country,
as
a
matter
of
fact,
has
been
told
a
number
of
times.
You
know
being
considered
as
a
number
one
state
in
the
country
in
terms
of
being
as
the
place
to
live,
and
we
often
talk
about
obviously
our
importance
in
education.
G
We
often
talk
about
importance
of
innovation,
governor,
which
you
remind
me
of
yesterday,
and
so
many
other
things,
but
what
I
have
always
been
most
proud
of.
The
fact
is
that
we
continue
to
lead
the
country
in
terms
of
the
programs
that
we
provide
for
our
veterans
and
continue
to
do
that
and,
as
was
alluded
to
by
the
mayor,
you
know
when
I
became
a
speaker
because
of
the
people
like
a
here
to
my
right
and
some
of
the
folks
that
I
had
just
introduced.
G
G
But
the
New
England
Center
in
home
for
veterans
is
such
an
important
part
of
this
great
city.
It
provides
a
place
to
stay
for
so
many
who
otherwise
would
not
have
a
place
to
spend
the
night.
More
importantly,
this
Center
provides
a
place
of
solace
in
camaraderie
for
those
who
have
vented
the
nation's
call
to
fight
for
freedom
and
to
keep
us
safe.
G
The
new
center
provides
new
homes,
private
apartments
for
37
veterans,
these
brave
soldiers
sailors,
a
men
in
women
and
Marines,
have
performed
their
duties
and
prayed
paid
a
price
to
each
and
every
one
of
us.
The
least
that
we
can
do
is
to
make
sure
that
they
have
a
clean,
safe
place
to
stay
when
they
need
it,
I'm
especially
pleased
to
say
that,
in
this
instances,
many
will
have
a
place
to
call
their
own.
G
C
C
Had
the
honor
of
first
meeting,
our
senator
senator
Dorsey
no
40
when
she
first
came
to
visit
and
tour
the
center.
Almost
six
years
ago,
I
had
only
been
here
at
the
Center
for
a
few
months
at
that
time,
and
it
became
immediately
obvious
to
me,
as
I
attempted
to
take
her
around
and
explain
the
services
and
some
of
the
issues
that
veterans
face,
but
she
was
educating
me
as
opposed
to
what
I
had
intended,
where
I
would
be
telling
her
what
we
were
doing
here.
She
knows
the
needs
of
our
citizens.
C
She
knows
the
needs
of
veterans.
She
knows
the
challenges
that
that
that
people
face
in
life,
the
center
veterans
and
the
citizens
of
this
district
and
the
entire
Commonwealth
Commonwealth
of
Massachusetts
have
an
incredibly
strong
and
effective
leader
an
advocate
in
the
senator.
We
are
so
pleased
to
have
her
here
again
and
always
at
our
side
and
on
our
side.
Ladies
and
gentlemen,
we
are
honored
to
welcome
senator
Cena
forward.
H
You
are
helping
spouses
in
this
Commonwealth
and
you
are
helping
our
children
in
this
great
place.
We
call
Massachusetts,
so
it's
an
honor
for
me
to
be
here
today
and
to
join
an
incredible
group
of
true
champions
of
our
servicemen
and
women
right
here
in
our
state,
congressman
Stephen,
Lynch,
incredible,
incredible
work
on
our
behalf,
governor
Charlie,
Baker,
mayor
Marty,
Walsh
and
speaker
Bob
Toledo.
H
We
all
know
that
we
are
able
to
hold
our
positions
in
public
service
because
of
the
sacrifice
of
our
men
and
women
in
uniform,
and
we
will
continue
fighting
and
providing
services
for
them.
That's
what
we're
going
to
do,
and
so
I
am
proud
to
represent
Senate
President
Stan
Rosenberg
this
afternoon
and
my
colleagues
in
the
Massachusetts
state
Senate.
H
Senator
rush
is
an
active,
a
lieutenant
commander
in
the
Naval
Reserves
and
he
just
returned
from
a
two-week
training
mission
in
Southeast,
Asia
and
I
am
proud
to
represent
him
and
all
of
my
colleagues
with
you
here
today.
Our
veterans
are
the
best
upon
what
is
the
best
our
nation
has
to
offer.
They
are
the
examples
of
service
that
all
of
us
should
try
to
embody.
H
They
signed
up
or
drafted,
put
themselves
in
harm's
way
to
defend
our
freedoms
and
to
protect
us
so
that
we
can
live
in
this
great
country,
free
from
tyranny
and
accepting
of
our
people.
So
I
am
proud
that
my
children
are
growing
up
in
a
time
when
our
heroes
are
appreciated
and
celebrated
that
our
state
government
works
to
provide
them
to
the
best
of
our
ability
with
the
services
and
resources
they
deserve.
However,
you
all
know
this
was
not
always
the
case
and
so
I'm
grateful
to
the
founders
of
this
great
place.
H
So
let
us
never
forget
their
sacrifice
and
let
us
always
keep
them
in
our
hearts
and
so
I'm
honored,
as
the
state
senator
for
the
first
Suffolk
District
to
represent
a
neighborhood
in
Boston
called
South
Boston,
where
congressman
Lynch
grew
up
the
first
place
in
this
country
that
had
a
Vietnam
Memorial
put
up
right
here
in
Boston
in
South
Boston.
So
thank
you
to
the
New
England,
Center
and
home
for
veterans.
H
This
is
a
home,
a
testament
to
our
commitment,
our
gratitude
and
our
solidarity
to
the
men
and
women
in
uniform
who
fought
and
continue
to
fight
for
us.
We
must
continue
to
work
harder
to
serve.
Those
who
have
put
their
life
is
underlined
to
serve
us
and
to
support
their
families
so
I.
Thank
you
all
today.
You
know
thank
you,
the
funders
and
that
folks
who
contributed
to
the
resources
to
make
this
building
happen,
but
it's
not
just
a
building.
It's
a
home!
So
incredible
that
the
name
was
change.
H
It
is
a
home
for
veterans
to
give
them
the
supportive
services
that
they
need,
whether
it's
health
care,
helping
them
reintegrate
and
assimilate
back
into
our
great
America,
because
this
is
a
great
country,
but
only
because
of
our
veterans
and
those
that
are
is
still
in
active
duty.
So,
thank
you.
All
god
bless
you
all
and
God
bless
the
United
States
of
America.
C
This
project
and
its
funding,
not
surprisingly,
has
been
very
complex.
We've
had
the
opportunity
to
work
with
a
number
of
wonderful
financial
institutions,
supporters
and
backers.
We
have
received
incredible
support
from
every
single
one
of
them.
At
the
center
of
that
team
has
been
the
project's
primary
equity
and
Tax
Credit
sponsor
and
funder
city
community
capital
I
would
like
to
introduce
mr.
Matthew
Bissonnette,
the
Northeast
Regional
Director
for
city
community
capital.
This
afternoon.
I
And
II,
thank
you.
The
good
news
is
I'm.
The
last
speaker
and
what
I
learned
at
a
early
age
is,
if
you're,
the
last
guy
before
a
big
crowd
and
food,
keep
it
short
and
get
out
of
the
way.
So
I
will
do
that.
But
we
are.
We
are
pleased
to
be
here
today
and
Andy.
Congratulations
to
you
and
your
team
I'm,
the
Northeast
Regional
Director
for
city
community
capital,
we're
the
largest,
affordable
housing
lender
in
the
United
States.
I
We
did
over
five
billion
dollars
of
lending
last
year,
plus
several
additional
billion
in
live
tech
investing
and
we
see
hundreds
of
projects
across
the
country-
and
you
know
when
you
look
at
this
and
you
look
at
the
partnership
and
you
walk
the
halls
and
you
see
the
plaques
for
the
private
support
and
the
governmental
support
and
the
financial
support
from
from
financial
industries.
This
really
does
rise
to
the
top.
I
As
far
as
a
team
effort,
as
well
as
the
staff
and
the
people
here,
they're
bringing
this
together
doing,
is
we
call
it
checkerboarding,
which
is
a
euphemistic
way
to
say
what
you've
been
dealing
with
for
the
last
two
years.
Moving
people
around
and
keep
things
operated,
so
this
is
a
tremendous
project
and
congratulations
we're
just
pleased
and
proud
to
have
been
a
part
of
it.
So
I
want
to
thank
everyone
that
gave
us
the
opportunity
and,
as
I
say,
I'll,
keep
it
brief
and
also,
most
importantly,
thank
our
veterans
for
all
they've
done.
A
Ladies
and
gentlemen,
the
the
ribbon-cutting
this
afternoon
will
proceed
with
three
specific
groups:
the
first
group,
the
lot
of
our
large
and
diverse
team
that
has
made
this
project
a
success.
The
first
group
will
consist
of
our
distinguished
speakers
from
this
afternoon
and
mr.
Joe
Alvin
Issa,
and
the
center's
chairman
of
the
board.