Massachusetts Fallen Heroes to Host 2nd Annual Patriot Week

Massachusetts Fallen Heroes, an organization dedicated to honoring the Fallen, supporting Gold Star Families and empowering Veterans, has announced its 2nd annual Patriot Week. The 10-day series of events honoring the Fallen, Gold Star Families and local Veterans will run from May 20 - May 29, 2017.

The organization celebrated the inaugural Patriot Week last year in May of 2016. During last year's Patriot Week the organization hosted the unveiling and dedication of the Massachusetts Iraq & Afghanistan Fallen Heroes Memorial. The memorial, a five sided 50 foot diaphanous column, stands tall in Boston's Seaport Common and serves as a public tribute to the servicemen and women who gave their lives fighting for our country in the Global War on Terrorism since September 11, 2001.

This year, Mass Fallen Heroes is bringing Patriot Week 2017 to a whole new level. They will kick off the series of events with Patriot Fest, an outdoor concert featuring chart-topping country artists Tyler Farr and Eric Paslay at Lawn on D on Saturday, May 20, 2017. The live show will begin at 4:00 p.m. and also feature local talent including Dalton and The Sheriffs and Louie Bello. Tickets are $40 and available for purchase through Ticketmaster.

New to Patriot Week this year will be, "Honor Their Sacrifice," a statewide initiative of community events organized and executed by Mass Fallen Heroes members, Gold Star Families and Veterans. The groups will be coordinating events within their own communities geared towards honoring the Fallen and bringing local communities together. "Honor Their Sacrifice" events will occur for the entire duration of Patriot Week.

"The success of Patriot Week 2016, the Memorial Dedication, and the community's support has given us a unique opportunity to share our message statewide and continue to strengthen the community we serve," said Dan Magoon, executive director of Massachusetts Fallen Heroes. "In just one year our organization has accomplished incredible feats while making our voice heard in the Commonwealth. By holding these various Patriot Week events we hope to get more of the general public involved and in the know of how they can give back and honor the Fallen, support Gold Star Families, and empower Veterans and our active service members."

In support of Patriot Week 2017, participating Boston landmarks and buildings will join Mass Fallen Heroes in supporting the Fallen and Gold Star Families by lighting up the exterior of their properties gold throughout Patriot Week. This will be the first year Mass Fallen Heroes and participating properties will execute the 'Go Gold' campaign throughout the city. A very special thank you to all participating organizations that will 'Go Gold' for Massachusetts Fallen Heroes' 2nd Annual Patriot Week.

Be sure to keep a special eye out for the Gold on some of the city's most monumental locations:

Atlantic Wharf

Boston City Hall

Boston Convention Center

Boston Harbor Hotel

DCU Center

Fort Point Channel

John B. Hynes Veterans' Memorial Convention Center

Prudential Center

TD Garden

The Zakim Bridge

Gillette Stadium

Scheduled Events for Patriot Week 2017:

2nd Annual Patriot Fest Concert on Saturday, May 20th at the Lawn on D. Performers include Tyler Farr, Eric Paslay, Dalton and The Sheriffs and Louie Bello. The concert is a celebration of service on Armed Forces Day. Tickets are available for purchase through Ticketmaster.com.

Boston's Wounded Vet Motorcycle Run on Sunday, May 21st, thousands of motorcyclists will take part in the 25 mile ride to honor five local veterans who have sustained serious injuries while serving. This year's honorees include SSG Brie Sullivan, SSG Kenny Butler, SSG Brandon Boyd, SGT Joshua Bouchard and CPL Paul Skarinka.

Statewide Educational Launch running on May 22th-26th, several schools across the state will participate to educate students about Memorial Day. Literature and resources are provided by Massachusetts Fallen Heroes to teachers, principals and educators in order to create personalized lesson plans for their students in hopes of increasing their awareness. Active Duty, Reservists and Veterans will also take the time to visit schools to educate students on the true meaning of Memorial Day through the lecturing of personal experience.

Patriot Forum on Tuesday, May 23rd, the Federal Reserve Bank Boston will host military, government officials, defense contractors, and industry-related professionals to participate in an exclusive forum to discuss current world issues. This forum is closed to the public.

7th Annual Memorial Dinner on Tuesday, May 23rd, Gold Star Families, Veterans, and patriotic supporters are invited honor the Fallen at this year's memorial dinner at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. The evening will honor Bob Rivers of Eastern Bank with Bill O'Reilly of Fox News serving as the dinner's keynote speaker.

· Re-dedication of the Memorial & Reception on Saturday, May 27th, invites supporters to honor the Fallen at the Massachusetts Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Heroes memorial in Boston's Seaport Common. Gold Star Family members, local government dignitaries, along with Massachusetts Fallen Heroes staff and board members will join to re-dedicate the memorial.

· Run to Remember Boston on Sunday, May 28th, to honor the first responders killed in the line of duty. Runners have the option in participating in either a 5K or half marathon through historic downtown Boston. A post-race celebration will be held at "Honor Block" located next to the MFH Memorial at 105 Northern Avenue, where runners and supporters can come celebrate our team's success with MFH and WKLB.

More events will be added to the schedule of events and the public is encouraged to participate. For up-to-date details on Patriot Week, visit www.mfhpatriotweek.org.

Established in 2010 by Boston firefighters, local Veterans, Gold Star Families, Police Officers and other patriotic citizens, Massachusetts Fallen Heroes' mission is to memorialize our Fallen by creating a permanent public tribute, and to provide advocacy services for local Veterans and families of the fallen who have served in the Global War on Terrorism since 2001.

Massachusetts Fallen Heroes has evolved from a charity geared towards building a tribute honoring Fallen heroes to a multifaceted organization. Massachusetts Fallen Heroes also acts as a liaison in acquiring educational, employment, medical, legal, financial and numerous additional services for local military veterans, their families, and families of the Fallen. Massachusetts Fallen Heroes is initiating new programs to raise awareness and to provide aid, support and scholarships.

For more information or to donate, visit www.massfallenheroes.org.

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