Welcome
The future of the Soldier's Home in Holyoke is in your hands
We are members of a Coalition of Veterans, family members, veteran services representatives and concerned citizens who believe we can and must move forward
See OUR COALITION page for a complete list of citizens, cities, towns, and organizations who support us.
**BREAKING NEWS**
The Coalition has released its response to the state's "Holyoke Needs Assessment and Implementation Roadmap" for a new Soldiers' Home in Holyoke. The Coalition recommends the current Soldiers' Home in Holyoke be completely replaced with a new state-of-the-art facility with 280 private rooms. Read our analysis and our official response.
HSH Coalition Response to Needs Study Final 26 Jan 21
Welcome to our Media page. Here you will find coverage of our Coalition and news regarding our efforts to build a better Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke for the future.
You can find all of our media statements and releases here.
If you are a member of the media and would like to speak to a representative of our coalition to learn more about our mission and goals please email us here.
OUR COVERAGE
Families of Holyoke Soldiers’ Home vets tell heartbreaking tales; Some say facility is still having problems today
October 20, 2020, Commonwealth Magazine
Families of Holyoke Soldiers’ Home veterans offer heartbreaking testimony on deadly coronavirus outbreak
October 20, 2020, Boston Herald
Legislative Committee Hears From Holyoke Soldiers' Home Families
October 20, 2020, WAMC Northeast Public Radio
https://www.wamc.org/post/legislative-committee-hears-holyoke-soldiers-home-families
Legislature’s Soldiers’ Home Oversight Committee holds first public hearing for families
October 20, 2020, The Westfield News
Families Of Veterans Lost During Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Coronavirus Outbreak Plead For Changes
October 20, 2020, CBS 4 Boston
Families Testify on Holyoke Soldiers' Home Outbreak as Visitation Suspended
October 20, 2020, NBC 10 Boston
Coalition member speaks out about Holyoke Soldiers' Home
October 19, 2020, Western Mass News
Coalition to hold stand-out in support of families outside Holyoke Soldiers’ Home hearing at Holyoke Community College
October 19, 2020, Springfield Republican, MassLIVE.com
Holyoke Soldiers' Home Coalition encouraged by progress
October 7, 2020, The Reminder
https://www.thereminder.com/localnews/holyoke/holyoke-soldiers-home-coalition-encouraged-by-prog/
Holyoke Soldiers' Home Coalition seeks to create virtual tribute
October 3, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE.com
Critics say Holyoke Soldiers' Home chronically underfunded
September 27, 2020, Commonwealth Magazine
Holyoke Soldiers' Home Coalition weighs in on future Home
September 23, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE.com
State begins needs assessment for Holyoke Soldiers’ Home COVID-19
September 15, 2020, Daily Hampshire Gazette
https://www.gazettenet.com/State-begins-needs-assessment-for-Holyoke-Soldiers-Home-COVID-19-36246373
State publishes survey in effort to ‘reimagine’ Holyoke Soldiers’ Home amid tragic loss of lives and waning pandemic
September 15, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE.com
Veterans and the looming ‘gray tsunami’
September 10, 2020, Daily Hampshire Gazette
https://www.gazettenet.com/Columnist-John-Paradis-36161711
Reimagining the Holyoke Soldiers' Home: Our veterans are counting on us to get it right
September 8, 2020, OP-ED by the Coalition, Boston Globe
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/09/08/opinion/reimagining-holyoke-soldiers-home/
Families fight for change after a deadly outbreak at a Massachusetts veterans center
September 4, 2020, Denver 7 ABC
Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Coalition gains support from Wilbraham
September 1, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE.com
Advocates voice concerns over process to renovate Holyoke Soldiers' Home
August 19, 2020, Western Mass News
State hires firm to help ‘reimagine’ Soldiers’ Home
August 18, 2020, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Coalition release statement on future plans for facility
August 17, 2020, WWLP 22 News (NBC)
New report shows nursing homes spike in new COVID cases due to community spread
August 13, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE.com
How a ‘small home’ model might work at Soldiers’ Home
August 13, 2020, Daily Hampshire Gazette
https://www.gazettenet.com/Columnist-John-Paradis-35698743
Vets earn best, safest care possible
August 13, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE.com
https://springfieldrepublican-ma-app.newsmemory.com/?publink=174d81f73
Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Coalition keeps up pressure on state officials to release plan to combat threat of 2nd COVID-19 outbreak
August 11, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE.com
Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Coalition calls for additional resources from state
August 11, 2020, WWLP 22 News (NBC)
Partnership with VA would help Soldiers' Home, says Barabani
August 6, 2020, The Reminder
https://www.thereminder.com/localnews/greaterspringfield/partnership-with-va-would-help-soldiers-home-says-/
Amherst Council unanimously approves petition asking state to build new Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke
August 4, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE.com
Ware Selectboard to act on resolution supporting new Holyoke Soldiers’ Home
July 31, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE.com
House Panel: COVID oversight lacking at state-run veterans’ homes – no reporting required to VA or CDC on cases, deaths
MedPage Today, July 30, 2020
https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/87826
Retired Holyoke Soldiers’ Home leader Paul Barabani testifies before Congress, calling for more federal aid to support vets’ homes amid pandemic
July 29, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE.com
Lax VA oversight led to coronavirus outbreaks at state veterans’ homes, House lawmakers say
Stars & Stripes, July 29 2020
Hearing examining VA’s oversight role for Holyoke Soldiers’ Home
July 29, 2020, WWLP 22 News (NBC)
https://www.wwlp.com/news/i-team/hearing-examining-vas-oversight-role-for-holyoke-soldiers-home/
Retired Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Superintendent Speaks to Congress
July 29, 2020, WAMC Northeast Report
https://www.wamc.org/post/retired-holyoke-soldiers-home-superintendent-speaks-congress
Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Former Superintendent testifies before Congress
July 29, 2020, WBZ TV CBS 4 Boston
Retired Holyoke Soldiers’ Home superintendent testifies before Congress
July 29, 2020, Boston Herald
Former superintendent Holyoke Soldiers’ Home testifies on capitol hill
July 29, 2020, Boston 25 News
Former Soldiers’ Home superintendent testifies before House panel
July 29, 2020, Western Mass News
Letter to the Editor: Soldiers’ Home is ‘unassailable debt’ due vets
July 26, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE.com
https://springfieldrepublican-ma-app.newsmemory.com/?publink=2f9c8437b
Three Western Mass. Towns Create Resolution to Call for More Funding at Soldier's Home
July 24, 2020, Worcester Spectrum News
Three municipal boards throw support behind Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Coalition after COVID-19 crisis
July 22, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE.com
Former Deputy Superintendent At Holyoke Soldiers' Home Says The State Has Long Ignored The Facility’s Needs
July 20, 2020, WGBH Boston “Greater Boston” program
Lawmakers hear testimony on bill to improve Holyoke Soldiers’ Home following deadly COVID-19 outbreak
July 14, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE.com
Legislators told to hold up on Soldiers’ Home fixes
July 14, 2020, State House News Service (Published in several newspapers in the state)
https://www.gazettenet.com/Legislators-told-to-hold-up-on-Soldiers-Home-changes-35225387
https://www.lowellsun.com/2020/07/15/lawmakers-told-to-wait-on-holyoke-soldiers-home-reforms/
Advocates ask lawmakers not to move on Charlie Baker’s Holyoke Soldiers’ Home reforms
July 14, 2020, Boston Herald
Hearing held for bill created in response to Holyoke Soldiers' Home COVID-19 outbreak
July 14, 2020, WCVB ABC 5 Boston
Veterans organizations calling for immediate funding for Holyoke Soldiers’ Home
July 14, 2020, WWLP 22News NBC
Veterans Ask State to Get it Right for Soldiers’ Home Reforms
July 14, 2020, Boston25 Fox
Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Coalition pushes Baker for funding renovations after deadly coronavirus outbreak
July 3, 2020, Boston Herald
Former Holyoke Soldiers’ Home head speaks out
July 1, 2020, WGBY “Connecting Point”
https://connectingpoint.wgby.org/former-holyoke-soldiers-home-head-speaks-out/
Grassroots organization formed to advocate for Holyoke Soldiers’ Home ‘rebrands’ with new name
July 2, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE
Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Coalition reacts to Baker’s plan
June 30, 2020, WGBY “Connecting Point”
https://connectingpoint.wgby.org/holyoke-soldiers-home-coalition-reacts-to-bakers-plan/
Lawmakers, families continue to push for changes at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home
June 29, 2020, 22News WWLP
U.S. Rep. Neal supports plan to renovate and expand Holyoke Soldiers’ Home
June 28, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE
Congressman Neal visits Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, discusses plans to protect veterans going forward
June 27, 2020, WWLP 22 News NBC
Coalition addresses concerns with Baker Soldiers’ Home reforms: Neal holds press availability about the Home
June 27, 2020, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Rep. Richard Neal among those pushing for more changes at Holyoke Soldiers' Home
June 27, 2020, WCVB TV 5 ABC Boston
'They sent them literally into a death trap': Families recall horror as Covid-19 ravaged Massachusetts veterans home
June 26, 2020, CNN
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/26/health/holyoke-soldiers-home-coronavirus-wellness/index.html
Holyoke Soldiers’ Home advocates question proposed reforms
June 26, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE
https://www.masslive.com/news/2020/06/holyoke-soldiers-home-advocates-question-proposed-reforms.html
Families of Holyoke Soldiers’ Home coronavirus victims demand action from state
June 23, 2020, Boston Herald
First of several planned stand-outs for advocates of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home to take place Tuesday
June 22, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE
Families, veterans, advocates call for Soldiers’ Home improvements
June 22, 2020, Daily Hampshire Gazette
https://www.gazettenet.com/Families-veteran-advocates-push-for-new-Holyoke-Soldiers-Home-34884098
Local residents and veterans petition for creation of new Holyoke Soldiers Home
June 22, 2020, 22News (NBC) WWLP
Families, veterans groups and services organize to make sure Holyoke Soldier’s Home debacle does not happen again
June 20, 2020, Springfield Republican | MassLIVE
Gov Baker asked to fund new wing at Holyoke Soldiers Home
June 20, 2020, WBZ News Radio 1030 Boston
https://wbznewsradio.iheart.com/content/gov-baker-asked-to-fund-new-wing-at-holyoke-soldiers-home/
Veteran advocates push state officials to fund expansion project for Holyoke Soldiers' Home
June 18, 2020, Western Mass News (ABC 40, CBS 3, Fox 6)
Support grows for building new soldiers’ home in Holyoke
Push comes after 76 veterans living there perish from COVID-19
June 18, 2020, WCVB ABC 5 Boston
https://www.wcvb.com/article/support-grows-for-building-new-soldiers-home-in-holyoke/32919381
Holyoke Soldiers' Home Retired Superintendent Leading Campaign For More State Funding
June 18, 2020 WAMC Northeast Public Radio
‘Someone in Boston dropped the ball': Holyoke Soldiers’ Home advocates ramp up efforts for reform as veterans, staff struggle to rebound from deadly COVID-19 outbreak
June 17, 2020, The Republican (MassLIVE)
In pursuit of a WMass Soldiers’ Home fit for the future
June 14, 2020, The Republican
https://springfieldrepublican-ma-app.newsmemory.com/?publink=3bf375e18
As coronavirus outbreak stabilizes, attention turns to future of Holyoke Soldiers’ Home
June 11, 2020, Daily Hampshire Gazette
https://www.gazettenet.com/As-Soldiers-Home-COVID-19-outbreak-slows-planning-for-future-34724598
Former Holyoke Soldiers’ Home superintendent from early 2010s breaks silence on outbreak
June 10, 2020, Western Mass News (CBS, Fox, ABC)
State eyeing new Holyoke Soldiers’ Home
June 10, 2020, WCVB-Ch. 5 ABC Boston
https://www.wcvb.com/article/state-eyeing-new-holyoke-soldiers-home/32822670
In Soldiers’ Home tragedy, a call for justice and accountability
June 4, 2020, Daily Hampshire Gazette
https://www.gazettenet.com/Columnist-John-Paradis-34605499
Missed opportunity at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home may have come at high cost
May 27, 2020, WCVB-Ch. 5 ABC Boston
Former VA director weighs in
May 19, 2020, Daily Hampshire Gazette
https://www.gazettenet.com/Johnson-letter-34283604
What Could have Been for Soldiers’ Home
May 7, 2020, Daily Hampshire Gazette