Congressman Milton urges support for veterans, calls to end mental-health stigma in Chelsea keynote

Congressman Milton delivered the keynote address at Chelsea City’s Memorial Day ceremony, drawing on his military experience and urging concrete support for veterans and confronting stigma around mental health.

Introduced from the platform as the keynote speaker, Milton described leading Marines in combat and the bonds formed in uniform. Recounting the question that haunted many service members, he said he answered recruits by saying, “We’re here so that nobody has to go in our place.” The remark was used to underscore his theme that honor requires ongoing civic commitment rather than mere ceremony.

Milton urged the audience to treat Memorial Day as a call to action. He said the best way to honor those who served is not to glorify war but to support veterans and to fight the stigma around mental-health care. “One practical thing we can do as we honor those we’ve lost is to fight to permanently end the stigma around mental health,” he said.

The congressman also tied remembrance to community support for returning service members, urging residents and officials to prioritize mental-health resources and outreach to veterans who may still be struggling. He framed the appeal as both moral and practical: many veterans, he said, carry “invisible war wounds” that require sustained community care.

Milton’s speech was a central, substantive portion of the program; it focused on civic responsibility toward veterans rather than on proposing specific local policies or budgets at the event. Following his remarks, the ceremony continued with additional readings, musical performances and wreath-laying at the memorial.

There were no formal votes or policy actions taken during the ceremony; Milton’s call for stronger veteran support was presented as a public appeal rather than a legislative proposal.