Veterans are officially welcomed into the Tewksbury neighborhood with the opening of the Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community.
Tewksbury, MA – A new chapter began for twenty-one local veterans on Thursday as state officials, community leaders, and advocates gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community. The facility, located in Tewksbury, offers safe and stable housing for formerly homeless veterans and represents a significant step forward in the fight to end veteran homelessness in Massachusetts.
The event was hosted by Soldier On, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting homeless veterans, in collaboration with the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and the Executive Office of Veterans Services.
“This is a tangible example of the values in this community,” said Secretary Jon Santiago of the Executive Office of Veterans Services, who attended alongside Secretary Ed Augustus of Housing and Livable Communities. Santiago emphasized the administration’s goal of reaching “functional zero” for veteran homelessness across the state. “Veterans deserve to live in dignity in a safe and healthy home,” he added.
State Senator Barry Finegold underscored the importance of collaboration in making the project a reality. “Without working together, this wouldn’t get accomplished,” he said.
Also present were Representative David Robertson, Town Manager John Curran, Selectboard Chairman Robert Kratman, Soldier On CEO Bruce Buckley, and VA Chief of Staff Dr. Marcus Ruopp
Representative Robertson remarked, “It’s more than just housing — it’s going to be a home,” a sentiment echoed by Soldier On CEO Buckley, who described the facility as not only a place to live but also “a community and a support system.”
The new community is Soldier On’s ninth residential development and reflects a growing network of support for veterans across the Commonwealth.
Dr. Ruopp noted the significance of the event, highlighting that this is the first local veterans housing facility, in collaboration with the VA, to open in the past eight years.
Among the new residents is Air Force veteran Shane Harrington, a Tewksbury High School graduate and third-generation veteran, who now assists Soldier On by driving fellow residents to appointments. Speaking at the event, Shane shared how the sense of community has already begun to make a meaningful impact, recalling a simple but powerful moment when a fellow resident asked him, ‘Are you okay?'” He reflected on how this small moment captures everything Solider On and the town of Tewksbury have worked to build here.
As the ribbon was cut and veterans officially moved in, the message was clear: this project is more than bricks and mortar — it’s a foundation for hope, healing, and a brighter future.
Visit Soldier On to learn about their other upcoming projects, as well as an upcoming FUNdraiser on May 18th!
Kari Weinstein
Kari studied Journalism and Advertising at Boston University and lived in Boston for 10 years, most recently moving to Tewksbury in early 2024. She has experience writing and producing content for radio and television.
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