A Veterans Day Message from JFS CEO Lino Covarrubias

Dear JFS Friends, Supporters, and Fellow Veterans,

This weekend I had the honor of meeting 102 year-old Larry Hunewill, a Navy veteran of World War II. He served in the battle of Iwo Jima, supporting the US Marine assault force. He was very inspirational and reminded me why we all joined our respective military branches – we had a call to serve a greater good. I’m very grateful, every year, for the Framingham community’s Veterans appreciation dinner, especially to the sponsors, Edwards Church, UCC, The Plymouth Church, UCC, Open Spirit, the Framingham Rotary Club and MutualOne Bank. And it was extra special to have my fellow veteran and friend, Rabbi Larry Bazer, Chaplain Colonel US Army Guard (Retired) as the Guest speaker.

CEO Lino Covarrubias with World War II Veteran Larry Hunewill (left) and Rabbi Larry Bazer, Chaplain Colonel US Army Guard (Retired) (right)

As someone who served as a Naval Officer for 22 years, I pause each year on Veterans Day to reflect on the legacy of service that unites us. This day – originating as Armistice Day on November 11, 1919, to mark the armistice that ended World War I – was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all Americans who have served in uniform, in war and peace alike. While Memorial Day solemnly commemorates those who died in service, Veterans Day offers us the opportunity to say “thank you” to the men and women still among us – those living with the sacrifices, challenges, and pride of military service. In Judaism, Hakarat HaTov, meaning “recognizing the good,” is a Jewish value that calls us to express gratitude for the kindness, sacrifice, and service of others. Veterans Day embodies this principle – a collective acknowledgment of those who have served and continue to bear the weight of that service. While Memorial Day asks us to zachor (remember) those who gave their lives, Veterans Day invites us to honor the living and recognize the enduring good they bring to our communities.

This year, as we honor our veteran community, we must also turn our attention to a critical and often overlooked issue: food insecurity among veterans and their families. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, approximately one in nine working age veterans experiences food insecurity. Nationally, veterans are about seven percent more likely to face food insecurity than non veterans. Further, among military families and active duty enlisted personnel, the rates are even higher – about one in four. In Massachusetts, the broader food insecurity rate stands at around 9.3 percent of households. Importantly, for veteran households relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the need remains urgent – 1.2 million low income veterans nationwide depend on this vital assistance.

As veterans, we understand the value of readiness and resilience – qualities forged under challenge, refined in service, and relied upon throughout our civilian lives. Today, I call you to action through the Veterans Collaborative (www.collaborate.vet) https://www.collaborate.vet/food and other local partner agencies: let us extend that same ethos of readiness into our homes, neighborhoods, and communities. Consider donating to organizations that are feeding veterans and their families, supporting SNAP access, and addressing food insecurity with dignity and urgency. Your contribution ripples outward. It honors our service, uplifts a fellow veteran/family in need, and reinforces the promise we make to one another: no veteran left behind.

This Veterans Day, let our gratitude be more than words. Let it be a call to sustained action, a recognition that the debt owed to those who have worn the uniform is real, and so is the responsibility we bear to stand beside them now. Together, we can transform gratitude into impact and service into support for the next chapter of veteran life.

Thank you in advance for helping and thanking a veteran and their families,