Massachusetts pays tribute to the fallen in a televised ceremony

BOSTON (WLNE)– In a stark reminder of how little has been spared by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Governor Charlie Baker and members of the state’s National Guard wore masks during a somber ceremony marking Memorial Day on Monday.

Comments recognizing the sacrifices of those who served in the nation’s armed services from state and religious leaders, including House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Rep. Linda Dean Campell, and Rev. Conley Hughes Jr. of the Concord Baptist Church, were all prerecorded.

Sarah Michel, a recreation therapist at the Soldiers Home in Holyoke, performed the spiritual “Amazing Grace” on violin during the televised special, in a moment that captured the solemnity of both the day and the pandemic’s toll.

The Holyoke home has lost 89 residents to the virus, and has drawn national headlines and greater scrutiny of conditions in veteran’s facilities across the country.

Flags that were presented to Baker and Major Gen. Gary Keefe during Monday’s ceremony had flown over the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial cemeteries in Agawam and Winchendon, “as a mark of solemn respect and in honor of the veterans lost during the COVID-19 public health emergency,” a statement from Baker’s office said.

“This Memorial Day is a little different than others,” Baker said in an address taped earlier, “but I can tell you this: the sentiment remains the same. We are grateful, we can not believe how important that service and that commitment has been to the success of this great country of ours.”

“And I honestly hope and expect that next year when we have Memorial Day, we’ll be able to embrace, both figuratively and literally one another again, and say, ‘Thank you and God bless.'”

©WLNE-TV/ABC 6 2020