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Black Veteran Appreciation Brunch returns to Boston to close out Black History Month

Feb 24, 2022

The Office of Veterans’ Services for the City of Boston, in partnership with the Office of Fair Housing and Equity and the Boston Planning & Development Agency, will host the return of the Black Veterans Appreciation Brunch, beginning at 10:00 A.M. at Florian Hall on Saturday, Feb. 26.
 
All attendees and participants must adhere to the City of Boston COVID-19 Guidelines.
 
The South Boston JROTC at Excel High School will kick off the event with both presentations of colors along with a POW/MIA Chair Recognition ceremony. Following the invocation presented by Pastor Pedro Castro from Grant A.M.E. Church remarks and reflections will be given by Veterans’ Services Commissioner Robert Santiago, City Council President Ed Flynn, and Mayor Michelle Wu.
 
The second half of the Brunch will include a Keynote Message from Andrea Gayle Bennett, a Colonel (Ret.) who served for more than 35 years in the Massachusetts Army National Guard. Following that, Barry Reaves, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Boston Planning & Development Agency, will moderate a panel discussion. The panelists include Bruce Bickerstaff, Anthony Hinson, and Jaret Smith.
 
Commissioner Robert Santiago, is very much looking forward to the return of the event. “I sorely missed that we could not host this Brunch last year due to the pandemic, I know with the safety protocols in place and the numbers trending in the right direction, it’s time for this event to return to celebrate our Black Veterans.”
 
Director Barry Reaves echoes those sentiments and stresses the importance of events such as this. “Having events like this not only is an opportunity to show our appreciation for the service Black Veterans have done, but also an opportunity to start a conversation on how to improve the lives of Black Veterans when they return home to Boston.”
 

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