STATE REPRESENTATIVE HANNAH KANE TO HOST ARMED FORCES DAY EVENT WITH GUEST SPEAKER SECRETARY OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS FOR MASSACHUSETTS FRANCISCO URENA

Shrewsbury- State Representative Hannah Kane will commemorate Armed Forces Day and honor active and retired military personnel with an event at Veterans’ Inc. located at 59 South Street in Shrewsbury, on Saturday, May 16th at 9am. Representative Kane will be joined by co-hosts State Senator Michael Moore, State Senator Jamie Eldridge, State Senator Harriette Chandler (invited), State Representative Carolyn Dykema, State Representative Danielle Gregoire, State Representative David Muradian and State Representative Harold Naughton, who together represent the Central MA Veteran’s Service District of Shrewsbury, Westborough, Northborough and Grafton. Francisco Urena, Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs for the Commonwealth, will be the special guest speaker.

Secretary Francisco Urena joined the Marine Corps after graduating from high school and was accepted into the Marine Security Guard Program in 2001. After the September 11th attacks, Urena attended security school and upon graduation from the program worked as a security guard at the United States Embassies in Syria and Kyrgyzstan. He was then stationed at Iraq’s Al Anbar Governorate, serving as a tank commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was struck by flying debris during a fight with insurgents and was awarded the Purple Heart for his injury. Urena was honorably discharged in November 2005 and returned to Lawrence, working as a security guard, attending college, and volunteering with Lawrence’s Veterans’ Services, where he would later serve as Director. In 2011, Urena was named Commissioner of Veterans’ Services for the City of Boston as was appointed by Governor Baker in 2015 to his current position as Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs.

Armed Forces Day was created in 1949 by then US Secretary of Defense, Louis Johnson, to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days and unify all branches of the military under the Department of Defense. It is a day to pay tribute to those actively serving and those who have served their country in times of war and peace.
State Representative Kane said, “I have a deep respect for those that serve our country in the most selfless way possible in all branches of the military. When there is a tragedy that results in the loss of life for military personnel our communities come together to mourn. This day is an opportunity to recognize and thank those who serve and put themselves in harms way so that the rest of us can enjoy a life of freedom. The intention of this event is to bring together active and retired military personnel and their families from the four communities served by the Central MA Veteran’s Service District of Shrewsbury, Westborough, Northborough and Grafton. It is a chance to pause and pay tribute in a meaningful way to express both gratitude and respect for the sacrifices that are made by the men and women who serve our country.”

The May 16th event will be held rain or shine, is free of charge, and open to the public and families. A continental breakfast will be served. For more information or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Gayle Vigeant at gayleW4C@gmail.com or 508-341-0578.