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East vs. West? 'Regional equity' emerges as flashpoint in debate over funding for Holyoke Soldiers' Home


East vs. West? ‘Regional equity’ emerges as flashpoint in debate over funding for Holyoke Soldiers’ Home
Updated Mar 16, 2021;
Local lawmakers and veterans advocates are smarting over concerns their counterparts in Eastern Massachusetts are raising over regional equity amid a debate over a new, $400 million Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.
During a lengthy hearing Tuesday before the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Administration and Regulatory Oversight, some argued the price tag was too high to spend on one project in Western Massachusetts while more veterans live in other parts of the state namely Bristol, Plymouth and Barnstable counties.
Detractors cited previous academic studies tracking declining numbers of veterans, and recommendations to move away from institutional care that were never acted upon. Senate Committee co-Chairman Marc Pacheco and other lawmakers also wondered about regional equity since the state’s two soldiers’ homes are located in ....

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Western Massachusetts honor guard to participate in virtual inaugural parade for President Joe Biden


Western Massachusetts honor guard to participate in virtual inaugural parade for President Joe Biden
Updated Jan 20, 2021;
Posted Jan 20, 2021
Members of the Massachusetts Veterans of Foreign Wars State Honor guard were selected to participate in the virtual inaugural parade. Here is the group in Szot Park in Chicopee. (submitted photo)
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CHICOPEE There will be no crowds at this year’s presidential inauguration in Washington, and the traditional ball has been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But five Western Massachusetts veterans who fought in Iraq or Afghanistan will be there virtually to honor the flag and the country’s veterans from World War II. ....

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