Representative Don Humason



MEMORIAL DAY By Representative Don Humason, Jr. May 26, 2007 The Senate wrapped up debate of their version of the FY 2008 state budget this week. While members of the Upper Branch were busy in Boston the House of Representatives only met informally, which left members free to work in their districts. On Monday, Sarah and I sat in on a rare Western Massachusetts public hearing of the Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development held at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Wednesday brought another rare opportunity for us in the West, a meeting of the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission at Barnes Municipal Airport. That day also brought news that Mayor Rick Sullivan had been tapped by the Deval Patrick administration to become Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. The Department of Conservation and Recreation is steward of one of the largest state parks systems in the country. Its 450,000 acres is made up of forests, parks, greenways, historic sites and landscapes, seashores, lakes, ponds, reservoirs and watersheds. According to the DCR website, www.mass.gov/dcr, the mission of the department is “to protect, promote and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural and recreational resources.” I congratulate Commissioner Sullivan and wish him well in his new position. Monday is Memorial Day. Across the Commonwealth we will honor the heroes who laid down their lives to preserve this great nation. We will honor those who have carried the torch of freedom into the farthest corners of the world. We will honor generations of Americans who selflessly answered their nation's call to defend. The survival of freedom still costs the commitment and sacrifice of America's sons and daughters. Lest we forget, for those who have fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know. More than twenty centuries ago, Pericles offered a tribute to fallen Greek warriors: “Not only are they commemorated by columns and inscriptions, but there dwells also an unwritten memorial of them, graven not on stone but in the hearts of men.” During this time of reflection, I ask you to consider what the world might look like if not for the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. How many of us actually feel that sense of duty so fervently that we are willing to give the last full measure to defend our nation? We owe a great debt of gratitude to the more than one million American patriots who put country before self and sacrificed their lives so that we can continue to live free. We live in a greater and safer nation because of their dedication and devotion to life and liberty. On this Memorial Day, we recognize 91 Massachusetts service members who, since September 11, 2001, have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. We cannot measure the depth of their loss, nor the true measure of their sorrow. Our debt to them will forever be beyond our power to repay. Yet, we must continue to remember. I believe the greatest show of respect to the memories of those who gave all is to fulfill our promises to our veterans and military families here at home. As your Representative, I will continue to make sure that the programs, resources and benefits that veterans and their families have so rightfully earned continue to be available. I would like to close with a poem, written on May 5, 1945, by Westfield resident Lena Petrucelli, and used here with her permission. Thank you, Lena. It’s called, “Hello Boys Hello.” Hello boys, hello, welcome back to the U.S.A. Hello boys, hello, we’re all glad, you’re back home to stay. We missed you all, so very much, and we know you missed us too. Thank God, the war is over, three cheers, for the red, white, and blue. When we see you all about, we want to stand, and cheer, and shout, Hi soldier, hi sailor, airman and marine, you’re the best sight, in many a day, that we have ever seen. Come now, put away your guns, forget the war with all its sorrows, settle down and raise your sons, to look ahead to happy tomorrows. Oh, you’ll know we’re happy, when you hear us say – Hello boys, hello, welcome back to the U.S.A! Representative Don Humason and his new aide Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us
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MEMORIAL DAY

By Representative Don Humason, Jr.

May 26, 2007

The Senate wrapped up debate of their version of the FY 2008 state budget this week. While members of the Upper Branch were busy in Boston the House of Representatives only met informally, which left members free to work in their districts.

On Monday, Sarah and I sat in on a rare Western Massachusetts public hearing of the Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development held at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Wednesday brought another rare opportunity for us in the West, a meeting of the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission at Barnes Municipal Airport.

That day also brought news that Mayor Rick Sullivan had been tapped by the Deval Patrick administration to become Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation is steward of one of the largest state parks systems in the country. Its 450,000 acres is made up of forests, parks, greenways, historic sites and landscapes, seashores, lakes, ponds, reservoirs and watersheds.

According to the DCR website, www.mass.gov/dcr, the mission of the department is “to protect, promote and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural and recreational resources.” I congratulate Commissioner Sullivan and wish him well in his new position.

Monday is Memorial Day. Across the Commonwealth we will honor the heroes who laid down their lives to preserve this great nation. We will honor those who have carried the torch of freedom into the farthest corners of the world. We will honor generations of Americans who selflessly answered their nation's call to defend.

The survival of freedom still costs the commitment and sacrifice of America's sons and daughters. Lest we forget, for those who have fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know.

More than twenty centuries ago, Pericles offered a tribute to fallen Greek warriors: “Not only are they commemorated by columns and inscriptions, but there dwells also an unwritten memorial of them, graven not on stone but in the hearts of men.”

During this time of reflection, I ask you to consider what the world might look like if not for the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. How many of us actually feel that sense of duty so fervently that we are willing to give the last full measure to defend our nation?

We owe a great debt of gratitude to the more than one million American patriots who put country before self and sacrificed their lives so that we can continue to live free. We live in a greater and safer nation because of their dedication and devotion to life and liberty.

On this Memorial Day, we recognize 91 Massachusetts service members who, since September 11, 2001, have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. We cannot measure the depth of their loss, nor the true measure of their sorrow. Our debt to them will forever be beyond our power to repay. Yet, we must continue to remember.

I believe the greatest show of respect to the memories of those who gave all is to fulfill our promises to our veterans and military families here at home. As your Representative, I will continue to make sure that the programs, resources and benefits that veterans and their families have so rightfully earned continue to be available.

I would like to close with a poem, written on May 5, 1945, by Westfield resident Lena Petrucelli, and used here with her permission. Thank you, Lena.

It’s called, “Hello Boys Hello.”

Hello boys, hello, welcome back to the U.S.A. Hello boys, hello, we’re all glad, you’re back home to stay.

We missed you all, so very much, and we know you missed us too. Thank God, the war is over, three cheers, for the red, white, and blue.

When we see you all about, we want to stand, and cheer, and shout, Hi soldier, hi sailor, airman and marine, you’re the best sight, in many a day, that we have ever seen.

Come now, put away your guns, forget the war with all its sorrows, settle down and raise your sons, to look ahead to happy tomorrows.

Oh, you’ll know we’re happy, when you hear us say – Hello boys, hello, welcome back to the U.S.A!

Representative Don Humason and his new aide Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group