DONALD HUMASON JR.
WESTFIELD – Yesterday’s kickoff to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force tour of the state’s military bases at Westfield’s North Middle School was highlighted by words of support from the city’s Boston representation.
State Senator Don Humason, Jr. and Representative John Velis spoke of the impact that Barnes Air National Guard Base, and the state’s recently inked $177 million military bond bill, have had on their districts.
Humason, the Senator for the 2nd Hampden-Hampshire District, asked those in attendance to continue supporting the base.
“Community support is essential. If our colleagues in Washington find out that the local communities don’t support the bases, thats it – they’re done,” he said. “Governments can support them (bases) but if neighbors don’t, thats a huge problem.”
JOHN VELIS
Humason, a republican whose district also includes precincts in the City of Chicopee, home to the Westover Air Reserve Base, said that each of the 11 communities in his district houses people employed by either Barnes or Westover.
“I can say that hands down. I just know that,” he said. “We know that the economic impact here in western Massachusetts would be direly impacted if anything was to happen to Westover or Barnes. We are very proud in Westover and certainly in Westfield, that we have for so long been the home of the ‘Barnes-stormers.'”
“We are a very patriotic state,” Humason said. “In fact, our country began here in Massachusetts. These military bases all across the state are just one more tool, one more piece, in our national defense. It is incumbent upon all of us, in government and our communities, to support them.”
Velis, a democrat and captain in the Army Reserves who drills with the 302D Maneuver Enhancement Brigade at Westover, followed Humason and said he is well aware of the military’s current funding situation.
“I am intimately familiar with the role in what is happening with all the cutbacks in the Pentagon budgets,” he said. “I represent Barnes. Hanscom (Air Force Base) (Fort) Devens.. I’ve drilled there, qualify on my weapons there. So I see the effect that it has.”
“The Task Force and what they’re doing is huge,” Velis said after the presentation. “Anybody who is tasked with protecting these military installations throughout the Commonwealth is doing great work. The cuts that are going on right now are gutting the military, and I’ve seen it at five of the six military installations.”
“This is personal to me. It’s affecting me on my drill weekends, it’s affecting other service members and as I said, these military installations, especially Barnes, have an advocate in John Velis,” he said.
