Date: 6/4/2021
Veterans Assisting Veterans is a volunteer nonprofit organization. We note that the Boston Globe Spotlight team’s recent article vindicates the former Massachusetts secretary of veterans’ services, Francisco Ureña, regarding his role at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, where 76 elderly veterans died from the COVID-19 outbreak. Ureña, a decorated American war hero, dedicated public servant, and dedicated veterans advocate, was wrongfully summoned to the State House to resign last year. Ureña was used as a scapegoat for the protection of the Baker administration. As a result, his resignation caused severe damage to his reputation and livelihood.
The board of directors of Veterans Assisting Veterans finds no better time than now, especially on the eve of Memorial Day, to demand that Governor Baker issue a public apology to Ureña.
We call upon the people and veterans of Massachusetts to directly contact the governor and his administration and demand this public apology.
The deaths of veterans at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home are tragic and could have been avoided had the governor favored professionalism and skills in his choice to oversee the facility rather than political patronage and nepotism.
John A. MacDonald
Spokesman for Veterans Assisting Veterans and a member of the board of directors
