McGonagle, colleagues deliver coats and winter items to Soldiers’ Home in Chelsea

  Last week, Rep. Joe McGonagle, along with his House colleagues Rep. Steve Xiarhos (Barnstable) and Judith Garcia (Chelsea), delivered over 200 coats and winter items to the veterans at the Soldiers’ Home in Chelsea. The donated winter items were part of a drive organized by the Massachusetts Military Foundation and Rep. Xiarhos, a Gold Star Father whose son Nick was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2009. McGonagle had previously delivered dozens of coats and items to various veterans’ groups in Everett and the surrounding communities.

  “I have always had the utmost respect for veterans, as my father was a Lt. Colonel in the Army,” said McGonagle. “Getting to know Rep. Xiarhos and joining him in his mission as a Gold Star Father has been an incredible experience and I have immense respect for him and all the work he does. It was great getting to join him and Rep. Garcia, along with Don Cox of the Mass. Military Foundation, Robert Engell [Acting Superintendent of the Soldiers’ Home in Chelsea] and others to deliver these items. Walking through the newly built facility and getting to meet some of the residents and staff was a great way to spend the day and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”