The first recipients of the Mass CARES! Grants were recognized in a special ceremony in the Massachusetts Statehouse.

On June 23, five Massachusetts military families were recognized by by Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Major General Joseph J. Carter, Adjutant General, Massachusetts National Guard, Mr. Coleman Nee, Undersecretary, Department of Veterans’ Services, and State Representative Harold P. Naughton, Jr., House Chair, Veterans & Federal Affairs Committee & Iraq Veteran.

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State Leaders Join in Honoring Family of Deployed Milton National Guard Member with New “Massachusetts Cares!” Grant

On July 30, Senator Brian Joyce and Representative Walter Timilty joined the Military Friends Foundation to present one of the new “Massachusetts Cares! Grants” to the family of Massachusetts Army National Guard Sergeant David Thompson of Milton.

Sergeant Thompson, a South Shore native, is currently serving his first tour of duty in Afghanistan with the 379 Engineer Company. SGT Thompson’s wife, Elizabeth, has kept red, white and blue Christmas lights on her front porch since her husband deployed earlier this year. She plans to keep them on until he returns home. “When I found out the Military Friends grant programs were available to support our family I was overwhelmed,” said Elizabeth Thompson. “I want to thank the Legislature and everyone who supports the Military Friends Foundation programs –they truly make a difference to military families.”

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Taunton family of deployed Army National Guard SGT John Spagna honored with a new “Massachusetts Cares!” Grant.

State Senator Marc Pacheco and State Representative David Sullivan honored the family of deployed Army National Guard SGT John Spagna with a new “Massachusetts Cares!” Grant. Sgt. Spagna is a sergeant in the 1058 unit of the National Guard out of Hingham. He was deployed June 8 and is expected to come home sometime around Christmas.

VFW Post 8771 joins Military Friends Foundation to Honor Sudbury National Guard Family with Massachusetts CARES! Grant.

Sudbury Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Charles Pepper and Members of Post 8771 joined the Military Friends Foundation to recognize the family of SFC Peter Organsky of Sudbury who is serving his first tour of duty Kuwait. “The Mass. Cares! program exists today because of the continued financial support from organizations like VFW Post 8771. Citizen Service Members are facing some of the highest deployment levels in history. It is not just the service member who is impacted by deployment – in a very real way a family serves as well – We applaud the Sudbury Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8771 for recognizing that service.” said Sergeant Major Jim Kelly (Ret.), President of the Military Friends Foundation and an Iraq veteran who served with the Massachusetts National Guard.

“We sincerely appreciate the support and respect that the Sudbury VFW displays to service members who are Sudbury residents! There strong presence is an inspiration to all Americans, said Susan Organsky. “I also want to thank all those who support the Military Friends Foundation – they are a lifesaver to our Massachusetts Military Families.”

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For more information on the program, click here, or contact the Military Friends at (617) 733-7994.

The Massachusetts National Guard’s 1058th Transportation Company of Hingham will be receiving more support from citizens here at home after being named the Military Friends Foundation’s 2010-11 “Adopt A Unit” Recipient. The 1058th Transportation Co., made up of Soldiers from many South Shore communities including Hingham, Bridgewater, Stoughton, Randolph and Quincy, mobilized this past January for a second tour in Iraq.

“When I heard that my daughter Ally and her fellow Soldiers in the 1058 would be receiving this type of recognition from citizens across the Commonwealth through the Military Friends, I was overwhelmed,” said Brian Turner of Stoughton, an Army veteran and father of 2LT Ally Turner, also of Stoughton. “As a veteran, I believe the best way we can honor the memory of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice is by taking care of those who are serving today. This support for our men and women in uniform, on the eve of Memorial Day weekend, couldn’t be a more fitting tribute – and as a proud dad I thank everyone who made this possible.”

As the “Adopt A Unit” recipient, the 1058 will receive $10,000 towards multiple programs over the next year to support Unit morale while they are deployed. “We wanted to find a way to say ‘Thank You’ to many of our local men and women currently serving overseas,” said SGM Jim Kelly (Ret.), President of the Military Friends Foundation, a non-profit supporting Massachusetts National Guard & Reserves since 2003. “We look forward to adopting another Unit next year and continuing to support Citizen Service Members with our grant programs.”

“This adoption of the 1058th TC by the Military Friends offers multiple ways of assistance and support for the Soldiers overseas as well as our families, here at home. The Command appreciates this opportunity and [is] grateful to the Military Friends for their generosity,” said Rear Detachment Commander 1LT David Wilson.

The Military Friends Foundation receives support through private donations and the Mass. Military Family Relief Fund. The Mass. Military Family Relief Fund was created by the State Legislature to recognize the unique service and sacrifices of Citizen Soldiers and Airmen after September 11, 2001. As part of this, a voluntary contribution check off box (Question 32e) on the Mass. State Tax Form was also established to allow citizens to directly support Mass. military families. Last year, the Military Friends Foundation provided $100,000 of assistance to Massachusetts military families.

“As the sponsor of 2005 legislation which served as the basis for the tax check off program in use today, I am pleased to learn that members of the 1058th Transportation Company and their families will benefit from the Military Friends Foundation’s generous pledge of support,” said State Representative Garrett Bradley. “This is another important way of supporting our troops while they serve our nation and our community in Iraq.”

“While the members of the 1058th Transportation Company must be honored and remembered for placing their lives on the line for our country, we must not forget the financial and emotional sacrifices being made by the husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, children, siblings and friends back at home,” State Senator Robert Hedlund said. “Through the MA Military Family Relief Fund, and the Military Friends Foundation, we can provide these families with a little bit of assistance to help them work through these hard times as their loved ones fight for the country we all love and live in.”

For more information about the “Adopt A Unit” program or to support this or other Military Friends Foundation programs for Massachusetts National Guard Members and Reservists, please visit www.militaryfriends.org.

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The Military Friends assisted our family by providing a grant for mortgage assistance.   The grant allowed me to focus on caring for our beautiful newborn while my husband is deployed.

Liza, Springfield MA

Patty, Winthrop MA

Please help by taking 5 minutes of your day to share the email below with your friends, co-workers and family about how by giving $5 on their state income-tax return can help support thousands of our own Massachusetts military families. Thank you!

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The unexpected need to replace our heating system for our home was a hardship on our family.  The Military Friends Foundation helped us by covering the expense that we could not afford by ourselves before the cold weather set it.  Thank you so much!
Kerri, Acushnet MA

SFC Brown, Springfield MA

SFC Shields, Randolph MA

Sara, Chicopee MA