military appreciation day 2025

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 22, 2025

Rep. Shirley Arriaga Honors Chicopee’s David Chapdelaine at Military Appreciation Day

BOSTON, MA – State Representative Shirley Arriaga proudly honored David Chapdelaine of Chicopee today at the first-ever Military Appreciation Day ceremony held in the Massachusetts State House’s historic House Chamber.

Military Appreciation Day was created by the Healey-Driscoll Administration bringing together local, state, and community leaders to honor those whose service might otherwise go unrecognized. Each legislator was invited to nominate a member of their local military community—whether a veteran, active-duty service member, National Guard, Reservist, or military spouse—to be honored during the ceremony.

David Chapdelaine served during the Vietnam War in both the Navy and Air Force, and is the former president of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 111. Chapdelaine founded and led the organization for over 20 years, setting a lasting precedent and tradition of honoring our veterans and military members. 

Representative Arriaga is a military veteran herself, a proud U.S. Air Force veteran, she served from 2010 to 2020 as an Aircrew Loadmaster stationed at Westover Air Force Base. During her service, she flew missions across key areas of operation, including the Middle East, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

The ceremony featured remarks from Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Veterans Services Secretary Jon Santiago, Senate President Karen Spilka, and a keynote address by General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. (Ret.), former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and 36th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.

For more information, please contact the Office of Representative Shirley Arriaga at (617) 722-2305 or Shirley.Arriaga@mahouse.gov.