►
Description
February 17, 2018 - In an effort to honor and engage our African American veterans, the Mayor's Office of Veterans' Services hosted its second annual appreciation luncheon. They dedicated part of the even for a few veterans from different wars to talk about their journeys during and after their service in the US Military. Other speakers include Commissioner of the Office of Veterans' Services Giselle Sterling, Chief of Health and Human Services Marty Martinez, Boston Police Department Chief William Gross, Mayor Marty Walsh, and others.
A
A
B
B
Thank
you,
please,
take
your
seats,
make
yourselves
comfortable
for
the
speaking
program
that
we
have
planned
for
you
this
morning
and,
as
you
settle
in
I'd
like
to
take
the
time
to
bring
attention
to
the
surveys
that
are
on
the
table,
we
are
always
looking
to
improve
how
we
are
giving
our
services.
So
if
you
could,
please
fill
those
out
at
the
end
of
the
program.
That
would
be
great
and
I.
Thank
you
in
advance
for
your
thoughts.
B
My
name
is
Giselle
Stirling
I'm,
the
commissioner
for
the
mayor's
office
of
veteran
services
and
I'm
here
to
welcome
you
to
the
African
American,
appreciation,
veterans,
brunch,
and
we
are
here
to
pause,
to
pay
tribute
to
the
contributions
of
our
veterans
and
their
families,
but
it
wouldn't
be
a
brunch
if
it
wasn't
for
this
wonderful
food.
So
I'd
like
to
take
a
minute
to
thank
mr.
Perry,
who
just
happens
to
be
a
Marine
Corps
veteran
as
well
for
his
service.
B
So
last
year
we
gathered
here
just
about
the
same
time
in
the
same
space
and
listened
to
a
panel
of
speakers.
Talk
about
a
wide
range
of
topics
on
the
successes
and
challenges
of
our
veterans
of
color
and
the
feedback
that
we
got.
That
we
received
was
that
it
was
very
informative
that
there
was
almost
too
much
information
and
the
one
thing
that
resonated
most
with
people
was
when
the
panels
actually
took
their
time
to
tell
their
stories.
B
And
it's
been
said
that
the
best
thing
that
a
communicate
and
do
a
community
can
do
for
their
veterans
is
to
listen
to
their
stories
without
judgement
in
a
safe
space
place.
So
today
we
are
going
to
do
just
that.
So
this
year
we've
invited
our
good
friend
mayor,
Eric
Hill,
to
facilitate
a
veteran's
town
hall,
where
we
hold
this
space
to
honor
the
experiences
of
our
veterans
as
a
supportive
community.
B
But
before
we
get
to
those
stories,
we're
balancing
the
veterans,
Town
Hall,
with
supportive
words
from
Mayor
Walsh
and
local
leaders
from
Boston
Fire
Boston
police.
In
response
to
your
questions
from
last
year
of
how
we
as
a
city,
are
engaging
advocating
and
empowering
our
veterans
and
military
families
of
Boston,
so
my
one
hope
today
is
that
you
leave
here
leave
here,
knowing
that
there
is
a
strong
Network
surrounding
our
veterans
and
military
families,
and
that
you
understand
that
you're
a
part
of
that
network
as
well
so
mayor,
Walsh
and
our
elected
officials.
B
Thank
you
so
much
for
making
this
a
part
of
your
lives
and
supporting
our
veterans
and
their
families.
Before
we
jump
into
the
agenda.
I
just
want
to
take
a
minute
to
bring
up
some
of
the
people
from
the
mayor's
office
of
veteran
services
and
I
asked
the
staff
of
OBS
just
to
step
up
here.
Just
to
make
yourself
recognize
come
on
up.
B
They
weren't
expecting
this
sorry
guys
so
as
much
as
I
would
love
to
take
all
the
credit
for
the
work
that
happens
in
the
office.
I
would
be
nowhere
with
these
great
amazing
group
of
people,
half
of
which
are
veterans
or
military
families
themselves,
and
many
people
don't
know
this.
But
there
is
a
veteran
service
officer
in
every
city.
B
In
town
in
Massachusetts,
Massachusetts
is
special
and
the
way
we
do
that
so
I
am
the
VSO
for
Boston,
but
I
can't
do
that
work
without
my
veteran
service
officers,
assistants,
Community,
Relations
Specialist
all
here
today,
so
I
just
wanted
to.
Thank
you
publicly
for
your
work.
Please
make
sure
if
you
have
any
questions
about
the
main
service
that
we
provide
was
just
tapped
or
1:15.
These
are
the
faces
that
help
our
veterans
everyday
talk
to
them
after
the
program
they're
here
to
meet.
B
I'm,
luckier
still
to
be
under
strong
leadership.
Our
first
speaker
I'd
like
to
introduce
and
though
his
appointment
to
the
mayor's
cabinet
is
fairly
new.
He
comes
to
the
table
as
an
experienced
organizer
with
over
20
years
of
serving
children
and
families
of
Boston
and
beyond,
and
he
comes
with
his
own
personal
connection
with
the
veterans
community,
which
makes
me
trust
his
understanding
even
more.
Please
welcome
the
chief
of
Health
and
Human
Services
for
the
city
of
Boston,
Marty
Martinez,.
C
Thank
You,
Commissioner,
sterling
and
veteran
services.
Thank
you
for
all
the
work
that
you
all
are
doing.
We
couldn't
do
what
we're
doing
without
your
leadership.
So
thank
you
so
much.
Thank
you
to
major
hill
and
the
54th
Massachusetts
volunteer,
regiment,
commander
neder
and
the
carter
post
for
hosting
us
here
again,
let's
hear
for
the
post
for
hosting
us
in
this
great
space.
D
C
Course,
our
elected
officials
and
our
friends
and,
most
importantly,
our
veterans
and
families
who
are
here
with
us
today,
thank
you
for
giving
us
an
opportunity
to
be
here
and
to
celebrate
the
work
and
the
accomplishments
that
you
all
have
have
made.
You
know
I
am
on
the
job,
I
think
it's
been
seven
weeks,
and
so
hopefully
I
still
look
fresh
and
energized,
because
it's
only
been
seven
weeks,
but
I'm
excited
about
the
work
that
I'm
here
to
do
to
lead
Health
and
Human
Services
under
Mayor
Walsh's
leadership,
and
to
do
the
work.
C
What
I
see
the
work?
The
work
to
me,
which
includes
the
Veterans
Commission
of
Health
and
Human
Services,
is
to
level
the
playing
field.
It's
to
make
sure
that
all
people
have
the
resources
they
need
not
just
to
survive
but
to
thrive
in
our
city.
That's
the
work
that
we
want
to
do
in
this
cabinet.
It's
the
work
that
the
Veterans
Commission
does
and
it's
the
work
that
I'm
trying
to
do
as
your
chief
of
Health
and
Human
Services
and
so
I'm
proud
to
be
in
that
role.
Commissioner,
Stirling
mentioned
my
background.
C
C
So
I've
gotten
that
from
a
little
kid
up
that
what
we
can
do
is
do
more
to
not
only
thank
our
veterans,
but
to
do
more
than
just
thank
them,
give
them
the
opportunities
to
achieve
what
they
need
to
achieve
for
their
families
and
give
them
the
resources
to
be
successful.
So
that's
the
experience,
I
bring
with
me
and
that's
what
I'll
bring
with
me
every
day.
City
Hall
and
Commissioner
Stern
Lee
and
her
team
will
make
sure
that
I,
don't
forget.
C
Those
experiences
as
we
try
to
do
the
work
that
we
do
together,
I'm
happy
to
be
here
and
I,
don't
need
to
tell
you
about
the
the
work
of
the
Walsh
administration
and
and
the
work
that
he's
done
to
prioritize
the
issues
of
the
community
and
the
issues
that
we
care
so
deeply
about.
I
know,
you
know:
well,
there's
a
deep
commitment
and
this
term
to
make
sure
that
we're
bold
and
the
work
we
want
to
do
in
the
community.
C
E
Thank
you
very
much
chief
mightiness
and
thank
you
Marty
for
the
work,
you're
doing
you're
doing
incredible
work
he's.
As
a
commissioner
sterling
said
he
did
she's
been
on
the
job
for
seven
weeks
and
he's
done
an
incredible
job
of
working
through
the
different
departments.
That's
the
biggest
cabinet
that
we
have
in
city
city
government.
So
thank
you
for
your
great
work
to
major
Hill.
E
Thank
you
for
your
service
to
our
country
and
thank
you
to
your
service
for
our
city
and
you
might
not
everyone
in
the
room
might
remember
the
him--oh
know
this,
but
he
was
an
OH&S
coordinator
back
in
the
day
and
that's
when
I
first
met
him.
I
was
a
state
representative
and
he
was
a
young
Owen
s.
Guy
I
was
young
stay
representative.
We
didn't
know
what
we're
doing,
but
we
did
it
so
I
wanted
a
you've
come
a
long
way.
So
thank
you
made.
You
appreciate
that.
E
E
Commander
Netta,
thank
you
in
the
post,
you
know
when
I
went
to
RL
talking
about
anything
in
the
city,
Veterans,
veteran
Ron
veterans,
issues
or
other
things.
This
post
has
some
incredible
work.
Not
everyone
in
the
city
knows
that
I
think
you
starting
to
see
that,
because
every
year
I
comes
as
defending
it's
bigger
and
bigger
and
bigger
every
year
and
I
want
to
thank
the
members
of
this
posts
for
doing
such
a
great
job
for
our
veterans
for
our
community
for
this
neighborhood.
So
thank
you
post
for
all.
You
do.
E
I
want
to
thank
congressman,
Mike
Capuano
in
his
office
for
that
what
he
does
for
our
veterans
in
our
city
in
our
state
Commissioner
sterling.
What
can
I
say
about
Commissioner
Australia
in
our
office?
They're,
incredible
people?
They
do
incredible
work.
You
see
shirts
around
the
operation.
Think
of
that
they
started
this
going
around
thinking,
veterans
around
the
city
of
Boston
no
strings
attached.
E
It's
knocking
on
doors,
thanking
people
providing
in
letting
people
know
what
the
services
are
available
for
them,
working
on
with
Commissioner
Finn
and
Commissioner
Evans
and
chief
Grasse
on
trying
to
recruit
Veterans
of
color
to
take
the
tests
to
become
police
officers,
firefighters
and
working
in
different
areas,
creating
opportunities
opening
doors.
So
I
want
to
thank
you,
commissioning
your
entire
staff
you're
doing
incredible
job.
E
We're
gonna
hear
from
Commissioner,
Finn
and
chief
gross
in
a
few
minutes,
but
I
want
to
thank
them
both
for
their
leadership
in
this
city
and
thank
you
for
what
you
do
every
day
and
we'll
talk
more
about
them
a
little
bit,
but
there's
other
guests
here
and
I
have
to
introduce
them,
because
the
elected
officials
that
I'm
gonna
introducing
some
other
folks
that
are
appointed
officials,
they
all
work
extremely
hard
for
our
veterans
and
for
our
community.
So
I
just
want
to
just
bit
with
me
for
a
minute
as
I
introduce
a
few
people.
E
E
From
the
from
the
fire
department,
one
of
the
things
Joe
fen
did
was
soon
as
he
got
when
he
got
in
there
as
appointed
as
as
the
Commissioner
a
few
years
ago,
he
looked
around
and
said.
We
need
to
really
do
more
about
our
each
of
the
community
and
we
need
to
let
people
know
who
we
are
as
a
fire
department,
because
before
the
fire
department
was
kind
of
in
in
sheltered
mode,
and
he
brought
on
one
Sanchez
to
be
the
chief
diversity
officer.
E
E
E
And
I
would
just
advise
anyone
in
the
room
if
you
have
questions
about
the
police
of
fire
department.
Go
talk
to
those
two
guys
and
talk
to
you
can
talk
to
these
two
guys
too,
but
go
talk
to
those
two
guys
about
opportunities
about.
How
do
we
do
more
because
they're
always
willing
to
listen
and
learn,
and
how
do
we
do
more?
So
thank
you.
We
have
City
Council
Eddie
Flynn
with
us
today,
Thank
You,
councillor
Flynn.
D
E
Have
state
representative,
Russell,
Holmes
I
think
is
with
us
because
I
see
his
office
here
that
you
represent
oh
and
the
last
person
I'd
introduce.
Is
the
person
who's
your
representative
here
and
who
works?
He
worked
as
an
intern
in
my
office.
He
worked
as
an
aide
in
my
office
intern
in
college
aid
aid
in
after
he
graduated
college
went
on
to
have
an
incredible
public
service
career
in
the
ran
for
state
representative
and
he's
been
the
representative
here
for
both
four
years.
E
So
there
might
be
other
people
we'll
get
them
later
and
I
apologize,
so
we're
honoring,
Black,
History
Month,
obviously
in
in
in
Boston
and
Massachusetts
in
the
country,
and
this
year's
theme
is
celebrating
my
past
my
present
of
my
future.
This
theme
speaks
to
the
timeline
of
service
in
this
room,
whether
you
served
in
World,
War,
2,
Korea,
the
war
on
terror,
you
have
all
share
remarkable
you
all
share
markable
qualities
and
that
qualities,
bravery,
self-sacrifice
and
commitment
to
our
country
safety.
E
All
this
month,
we've
been
celebrating
the
many
contributions
of
African
Americans
to
all
different
facets
of
American
life.
That
includes
military
service.
Going
back
centuries,
groups
like
the
54th
Massachusetts
regiment
believed
that
in
the
promise
and
value
of
America,
even
while
facing
discrimination
at
home,
will
never
forget
their
sacrifices
or
take
those
sacrifices
for
granted.
E
All
in
these
times
we
still
divided
in
our
country
and
in
the
face
of
the
threat
of
our
nation,
the
city
of
Boston
is
going
to
continue
to
support
people
and
support
you,
no
matter
what
we're
going
to
work
to
make
sure
we
in
smooth
instant
in
ensure
smooth
transition
back
to
civilian
life,
to
our
veterans.
We're
gonna
make
sure
that
no
veteran
is
ever
left
on
the
streets
of
our
city.
We
help
veterans
and
their
families
get
connected
to
services,
and
we
will
never
miss
an
opportunity
to
thank
our
veterans.
E
We
started
with
operations
Thank
You
Bret
in
2015.
Since
then,
we've
recruited
I,
say
we
really
commissioned
Australian.
Our
office
has
recruited
over
300
different
volunteers
who
have
knocked
on
over
30
150
doors
in
the
city
of
Boston,
who
have
reached
11
hundred
and
50
veterans
personally
thanking
them
for
their
service.
We
listened.
E
We
listen
to
their
stories,
we
hear
what
their
needs
are
and
we
work
on
to
make
sure
we
meet
those
needs.
Every
single
day.
We
remain
committed
to
supporting
our
veterans
and
our
military
men
and
women
in
every
which
way
we
can
and
again
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
to
all
the
veterans
in
this
room.
I
want
to
thank
you
for
your
years
of
service.
B
B
F
You
so
much
I'd
certainly
like
to
thank
major
Hill
command,
Aneta
54th,
regiment
myself.
As
the
mayor
stated,
we
have
Juan
Sanchez
who's
on
board
and
I
was
a
chief
diversity
officer
boss
of
I-25
and
he's
done
remarkable
things
over
the
last
year
and
a
half
we
have
a
page
program.
Page
program
works
with
our
returning
veterans
when
Juan
and
I
sat
down
to
discuss
what
we
needed
to
do
to
keep
compliance
with.
F
You
will
I
know
the
laws
of
the
Massachusetts
we
needed
to
focus
on
veterans
returning
for
military
service,
and
the
page
program
is
a
that
way
to
stay
connected
and
also
working
on
programs
around
young
men
and
women
who
are
listening
in
the
military
currently
that
we
follow
them
throughout
their
enlistment
that
we
can
actually
track
them.
Follow
them
give
them
support
and
coverage
meant
and
have
them
be
aware
of
the
opportunities
that
lie
ahead
when
they
return
home
from
the
military
service.
F
F
And
I'm
very
proud
of
that
number,
and
certainly
we
need
to
do
more
and
we
are
working
to
do
more
on
that
topic.
We
were
able
to
use
some
of
the
legends
and
statues
that
make
it
available,
so
we
can
do
some
language
preference,
hiring
around
Spanish
and
also
Haitian
Creole,
and
we're
gonna
be
looking
to
expand
that
in
the
next
class
so
that
we
we
raise
that
number
higher
than
a
27%
that
is
in
this
current
class
and
we're
working
hard
to
do
that
and
we
actually
understand
the
need.
F
It
certainly
I
spent
34
years
serving
the
city
of
Boston
the
fire
department
and
know
that
we
need
to
be
reflective.
The
community
was
serving
and
we're
gonna
be
working
hard
going
forward
to
do
that.
This
past
summer
we
had
a
program.
First
time
we
did,
it
was
a
class
I
mean
we
call
it
teen
Academy
and
we
partnered
with
in
collaboration
with
ABCD.
We
had
25
young
men
and
women
in
the
minority.
F
Neighborhoods
come
and
actually
spent
six
weeks
with
us
to
learn
about
the
Boston
Fire
Department,
the
opportunities
that
are
available,
we're
hoping
this
year
to
increase
that
to
50,
so
that
we're
gonna,
keep
on
creasing
the
size
of
that
and
maybe
run
two.
So
it's
a
way
for
us
to
make
sure
we're
getting
a
message
out
that
we
are
inclusive
and
that
the
fire
department
is
certainly
leaving
our
past
in
the
past.
So
with
that
I
just
like
to
say
thank
you
for
inviting
me
today
and
thank
you
to
our
veterans
and
in
the
room.
F
I
would
say
the
majority
of
the
veterans
in
this
form
of
probably
Vietnam
veterans,
who
were
here
and
I,
would
like
to
thank
you
for
your
service,
especially
if
you
will.
You
were
the
Forgotten
veterans
that
came
back
and
didn't
have
the
recognition
and
didn't
have
the
parades
and
didn't
have
that
welcome
home.
So
I
just
like
to
say
thank
you
to
all
our
Vietnam
veterans
in
the
room
today.
Thank
you.
B
G
G
Commander,
thank
you
and
your
staff
for
for
hosting
us
major
hill.
My
brother,
thank
you.
You
know.
Veterans
of
foreign
war
helped
raise
me
I'm
from
Hillsboro
Maryland
I'm,
a
country
boy
they
got
here
in
1975,
but
on
that
farm
I
had
veterans
of
foreign
war.
Vietnam
vets,
then
instilled
in
me
honor
pride
and
respect.
That's
why
it's
an
honor
to
be
here
today
when
I
arrived
in
Boston
in
1975,
I
was
lucky
in
my
apartment,
building
on
Edgemont
Street,
three
families
of
Vietnam
vets.
G
G
Speakin
of
hezmana
Street
there's
mr.
Celeste
er
I
couldn't
be
back
because
he
would
kick
my
butt.
So
thank
you,
sir
mr.
Callender.
These
guys
were
chasing
me
before
I
got
on
the
department,
so
thank
you
and
before
I
go
further.
All
of
the
seniors
in
this
room,
the
veterans.
Thank
you
for
paving
the
way
so
I
could
be
here
in
this
capacity
because
of
you
and
what
you
went
through
and
how
you
fought
it
aloud
for
mayor,
Walsh
and
Commissioner
Evans
to
appoint
me
as
the
first
african-american
chief
of
police.
G
That
is
sincerely
for
you
Commissioner
sterling.
Thank
you
for
taking
care
of
the
veterans
and
thank
you
for
your
services
as
well
I'm.
Just
a
big
part
of
me,
commissioner.
Fen.
Thank
you,
sir,
for
serving
our
great
nation
as
well
onto
BPD.
Bpd
is
the
first
Police
Department
in
the
nation,
and
since
then
we
have
a
lot
of
work
to
do
but,
and
we
have
been
doing
a
lot
of
work,
we
believe
in
the
Boston
Police
Department
that
our
Police
Department
should
reflect
every
neighborhood
in
this
city.
G
G
G
G
Does
that
I'm
telling
you
right
now
we
realize
with
all
this
going
on
in
the
city
myself
and
Commissioner
Evans,
is
that
we
listen
to
you
and
how
you
want
to
be
served
in
whom
you
want
to
be
served
by
we,
you
want
fair
representation,
and
you
want
your
Police
Department
in
your
Fire
Department
to
reflect
that
and
your
city
hall
administration
to
reflect
that
and
I'm
telling
you
right
now
under
Mayor
Walsh.
We
are
committed
to
that
task
into
that
Duty
for
BPD,
we're
about
to
graduate
a
class
in
April
and
trust.
G
Me
they're
gonna
be
ready
to
hit
the
streets
with
the
same
mindset
in
mind
that
I
mentioned
I
just
alluded
to
care,
respect
as
well.
We
have
a
team
police
academy,
we
have
an
explorer's
program
and
we
have
a
Boston
police
cadet
program,
and
this
is
about
diversity.
This
is
about
inclusion,
and
this
is
it
this
isn't
about
exclusion.
So
again,
mr.
Michael
Gaskins
I'm
gonna
break
the
mold
a
little
commissioner,
because
he
didn't
have
time
to
talk
last
year.
G
D
When
I
came
in
on
the
first
day
and
I
spoke
with
chief
gross
and
the
Commissioner,
we
asked
that
we
changed
the
mission
statement
for
the
organization
as
well,
and
so,
if
you'll
go
to
Boston
gov
backslash
police
you'll
see
our
new
mission
statement.
That's
posted
there
that
really
states
that
we
have
a
desire
to
be
a
reflection
of
the
communities
that
we
serve.
We
brought
on
134
our
current
recruit
class
that
started
on
September
11
2017
about
22
percent
African
American
about
16
percent
Latino
and
about
3/4
percent
Asian.
D
We
want
to
increase
that
number
as
well
and
we
had
about
20
21
percent
women
in
that
particular
class.
So
we're
excited
that
they'll
be
hitting
the
streets
soon
in
April
we
actually
had
a
young
man
here.
Raymond
Soto
I
didn't
recognize
him.
He
was
you
know
his
head
was
shaved
and
everything
but
I.
Remember
if
you
tell
me
the
first
name
of
the
person.
I
can
tell
you
the
last
name,
so
we're
excited
to
have
not
about
97.
Now
that
are
remaining
in
the
Academy.
D
Again,
we
have
a
cadet
program.
The
mayor
just
recently
extended
the
application
deadline
for
the
cadets
program.
For
this
particular
application
series
to
March,
16
2018
I
might
have
some
Flyers
on
hand
as
well.
Currently
our
population
for
cadets.
We
have
about
thirty
three
remaining
cadets.
Once
they
get
through
their
two
years
of
service.
The
Commissioner
can
include
them
in
an
academy
class,
so
I
can't
say
exactly
when
the
Academy
class
will
happen
just
yet,
but
it
will
happen
and
we
have
about
80
percent
people
of
color
in
that
particular
recruit
pool.
D
B
B
B
B
B
So
our
first
Town
Hall,
we
actually
held
at
Veterans
Day
at
Faneuil
Hall,
and
we
heard
from
our
recently
returned
veterans
talking
about
their
stories
of
multiple
deployments
and
how
that
affected
their
families.
We
even
heard
from
a
103
year
old,
World
War,
two
veteran
nurse
who
shared
her
experience
of
trying
to
heal
and
save
the
lives
of
the
service
members
and
soldiers
in
front
of
her,
and
it
was
a
great
experience
for
both
the
veterans
and
the
non
veterans
to
share
that
history
among
us.
B
H
A
H
H
H
H
You
know
we
had
weird
stories
of
weapons
of
mass
destruction
of
this
and
that
so
we're
going
into
a
battle
that
we
didn't
know
quite
what
was
going
to
happen,
but
before
I
deployed
our
our
mayor
here
called
me
up
and
said
you
know
anything
you
need
just
reach
out.
Let
me
know
so
I
appreciate
that
that
made
me
feel
really
really
good
going
out
the
door
and
it
comforted
me
so
I
appreciate.
Thank
you.