Governor Healey unveils Massachusetts Gold Star Family Toolkit at State House tree dedication

Governor Maura Healey on Friday addressed Gold Star families at a tree-lighting ceremony in Memorial Hall at the Massachusetts State House and announced a new Massachusetts Gold Star Family Toolkit to help families navigate benefits, supports and services across federal, state and local programs.

At the event presented by the Military Friends Foundation, Healey called the gathering "the most meaningful event" she attends and said the toolkit is "our state's first comprehensive guide" to assist families with scholarships, education, health care, housing, job supports and other resources. She also noted recent action she took to put into law a day recognizing veteran suicide awareness and remembrance.

"This is our state's first comprehensive guide, and the point is to help families navigate the benefits and the services that they're owed across the federal, state, and local governments," Governor Maura Healey said. She added that the ceremony and the tree are meant to ensure those who died in service "will not let these names fade."

The program mixed official remarks with personal remembrances. Retired Brigadier General Thomas Sellers, president of the Military Friends Foundation, opened by saying, "Service creates a bond, but sacrifice creates a family," and asked attendees to stand for a color guard presentation. Gold Star spouse Courtney Deegan recounted the Military Friends Foundation's support after her husband's death and read a poem titled "Missing You at Christmas." "They say it takes a village, but for a Gold Star family, it takes an entire foundation of heroes," Deegan said.

Legislative leaders who spoke included Senator Mike Rush and Representative Joe McGonigal, chairs of veterans committees, who thanked organizers and pledged continued legislative attention to veterans' needs. McGonigal noted the scale of veteran mental-health challenges and urged ongoing efforts to prevent suicide, saying a new remembrance day is part of that work.

Organizers invited Gold Star families to come forward and read names, ranks and hometowns of loved ones lost in service; those readings spanned decades and conflicts and included several references to deaths by suicide as well as combat fatalities. Musical elements included a national anthem performance and holiday carols by student and community choirs.

The governor, state treasurer and other officials thanked the Military Friends Foundation and volunteer partners who support Gold Star families year-round. No formal votes or policy actions were taken at the ceremony; it was a commemorative event and an announcement forum for the new toolkit. The program closed with a choir performance and a final rendition of "Silent Night."