Dear Home Base Nation,

This Memorial Day, I ask that you take a moment to honor and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation.

Millions of Americans have selflessly served in our armed forces since our war of independence began 250 years ago. Across many generations, they have sacrificed their tomorrows to protect the freedoms we cherish today. We are privileged to celebrate their lives, salute their service and support their Families each spring.

To those in and near Boston this weekend, I strongly encourage you visit the iconic Memorial Day Flag Garden on Boston Common. The more than 37,000 flags planted by the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund (MMHF) at Home Base, which provides critical support to post-9/11 Families of the Fallen in our Commonwealth, honor every brave Massachusetts Service Member who gave their life defending our Nation since the Revolutionary War. It is a truly moving tribute to our Fallen Heroes, and I thank each of our volunteers for their participation and donors for their generosity.

As we near summer, I am proud to share that we will honor the service and sacrifice of military-connected first responders during the pregame ceremony of the Boston Red Sox-Los Angeles Dodgers game at historic Fenway Park on July 26, as part of our most critical, annual fundraiser – the 16th annual Run to Home Base presented by RTX.

Although there is much on the horizon to be excited about, we must acknowledge the difficulties our Veterans face today. Many have recently been fired from the federal workforce, and the Department of Veterans Affairs is slated to lose more than 80,000 employees to job cuts. The effects of these layoffs are likely to not just be detrimental to many Veterans’ careers, but more importantly to their personal lives and mental wellbeing.

Home Base is also feeling the effect on our annual budget, which could present us with long-term challenges in serving our Nation’s Warriors and their Families. Thus, the need to support our work is greater now than ever. We are honored to have served over 45,000 Veterans, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen over the past 16 years Nationally and with regional locations in Florida, Arizona and Texas. We are proud to continue serving those in need for many years to come – all at no out-of-pocket cost to them!

As a parting request, I ask that you please make sure to look out for any Veterans in your life who appear to be struggling.

If you, or a loved one, are in crisis or facing an emergency, please go to the nearest emergency room or call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 then press 1.

If you, or a loved one, need support, please connect with us at homebase.org/getcare.

Sincerely,

Jack Hammond

Retired Brigadier General, U.S. Army | Executive Director, Home Base