Healey-Driscoll Administration Marks Major Milestone for New Holyoke Veterans Home During ‘Topping Off’ Ceremony

On Thursday, November 7th, Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Congressman Richard Neal, Veterans Services Secretary Jon Santiago, and other local officials marked a major milestone in the reconstruction of the Holyoke Veterans Home with a traditional “topping off” ceremony, placing the highest and final beam on the new facility.

“Today’s ceremony brings us one step closer to our goal of providing Massachusetts veterans with the highest standard of care,” said Governor Healey. “This project, under the dedicated leadership of Secretary Santiago and Executive Director Lazo, is a testament to our commitment to honoring our veterans by providing them with a home that respects their service and sacrifices.”

Since breaking ground, the Holyoke Veterans Home reconstruction project, led by the Commodore|Walsh Joint Venture and its partners including Prime Steel Erecting, has achieved significant progress. Today’s ceremony marks a key milestone in this journey, honoring the longstanding construction tradition of placing a final beam at the highest point of the structure. This beam, signed by residents, staff, tradespeople, and elected officials, pays tribute to the veterans who will call this home and to all who have contributed to making this reconstruction possible.

“Our administration is committed to investing in our veterans, and this new facility represents our promise to provide them with top-tier, compassionate care,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “Together, we are building a future that reflects the respect and dignity our veterans deserve.”

During the ceremony, Jeremy Long, Corporate Director at Prime Steel Erecting, Inc. spoke about the project, "I am a proud fourth-generation Local 7 union ironworker. Today, I feel a profound sense of honor and gratitude as we gather to celebrate a time-honored tradition in our trade—the Topping Off ceremony. As I reflect on the work done here, I can’t help but highlight the critical role that union labor has played in this success. The strength of our unions is found in our members and Massachusetts boasts some of the strongest unions in the country, and that’s something we can all take pride in.”

Photos: Prime Steel Erecting

The Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke has served as a long-term health care facility for veterans since 1949, playing an essential role in the community for over seven decades. This state-of-the-art reconstruction project will accommodate 234 long-term care beds, offering a range of new clinical spaces, a memory care floor, and a 40-person Adult Day Health Program for veterans residing in the community. Additionally, a Memorial Garden at the entrance will honor those who have served, particularly those lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“Four years ago, we gathered outside the Holyoke Soldiers Home after seventy-six veterans tragically lost their lives. At that time, we promised to deliver change with a home that our veteran community deserved. Today, we take a significant step forward in making that promise reality,” said Congressman Richard Neal. “We have an obligation to fulfill the promise we made to our servicemembers when they entered the service: you protect us, and we’ll take care of you. I am grateful to VA Secretary Denis McDonough, with whom I was in frequent communication to ensure federal funding was secured for a new Holyoke Veterans Home. This is a great day for western Massachusetts, especially for the family members of Holyoke Veterans Home residents, whose advocacy helped bring this home to fruition.”

In March 2023, Secretary Jon Santiago announced that the Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS) completed the necessary final steps to ensure compliance and receive grant funding through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) State Home Construction Grant Program. The Holyoke Veterans’ Home then entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the VA, committing $263.5 million in federal funds to be delivered out over the course of fiscal years.

“Today’s topping off ceremony reflects our progress—not only in building this facility but in restoring trust with our veteran community,” said Secretary Jon Santiago. “This facility fulfills our commitment to provide veterans with the dignity, respect, and care they deserve—a home that truly honors their service and sacrifice.”

This transformation has been a collaborative effort, led by Executive Director Michael Lazo and the dedicated staff at Holyoke, who are fostering a culture of respect and quality care for Massachusetts veterans.

“For all of us, the Topping Off Ceremony represents more that just the completion of a major milestone in our building’s construction,” said Michael Lazo, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke. “By inviting both our veteran residents and our staff to sign two of the final beams, we’ve created a powerful symbol of connection and pride—it reflects the synergy between the builders and the future occupants of this space.”

In September 2024, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and Secretary Santiago visited the veterans home to commend staff on the transformative progress made over the past year. Key advancements include the implementation of a state-of-the-art electronic medical records (EMR) system, the Home’s first-ever Department of Public Health (DPH) license and increased budgetary investments that have enabled expanded staffing and enhanced services for residents.

Construction on the new building remains on schedule, with completion expected in late 2026 and full site restoration anticipated by summer 2028.

Photo: Governor Maura Healey's Office

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