The Executive Office of Veterans Services and city leaders unveiled the Massachusetts Veterans Legacy Trail at Battleship Cove in Fall River on Oct. 5, introducing an online, searchable map the administration says catalogs more than 1,300 war memorials across the Commonwealth. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll called the project “a first of a kind in the nation” and said it is intended to make memorials more accessible for history, genealogy and civic engagement.

Why it matters: The trail is designed to bring together monuments ranging from small-town greens to large memorials like those at Battleship Cove so that veterans, families and visitors can find and learn the stories behind them. Officials framed the project as part of a broader set of veteran-support efforts that state leaders described as investments in veterans’ services and public remembrance.

State and local leaders at the ceremony emphasized the Trail’s scope and its ties to recent legislative and budgetary work. “This new trail is a first of a kind in the nation,” Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll said, adding that the interactive map and database will ensure “the sacrifices of our veterans and of our Gold Star families will be remembered, not just in stone and bronze, but in the living memory of our communities.” Driscoll also referenced the HERO Act as an example of recent state-level legislation that expanded services for veterans, saying it advanced “one of the most comprehensive state level veteran support packages” and strengthened health care access, workforce training and education opportunities.

Veterans’ Services Secretary Dr. John Santiago, who led the project launch, said the Trail catalogs memorials and includes short explanatory text about what inspired each monument. He thanked local veterans service organizations and municipal partners who contributed to the effort and said the Trail is meant to serve future generations.

Local officials framed Fall River and Battleship Cove as a fitting place for the launch. Mayor Coogan noted Battleship Cove’s naval exhibits and local memorials, while Representative Carol Faiola described Bicentennial Park’s collection of monuments, including an 80%-scale Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall that she said was funded by about $2,000,000 in public and private contributions. “If you just take a walk from here … you will encounter a magnificent Bicentennial Park,” Faiola said, urging visitors to spend time with the memorials.

What happened at the ceremony: Remarks were delivered by Corey Honan, assistant secretary for engagement and outreach with the Executive Office of Veterans Services; Mayor Coogan of Fall River; Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll; Veterans’ Services Secretary Dr. John Santiago; Senator Rodricks; Representative Carol Faiola; and Representative Steve Roulette. Organizers offered guided tours and refreshments following the formal remarks.

What the record shows: Officials repeatedly described the Trail as an online, searchable database of memorials—“more than 1,300 different war memorials,” as Driscoll put it—and said the top 10 locations in each region will be highlighted for visitors. Speakers also linked the Trail to recent state actions: Driscoll and others referenced the HERO Act as part of the Commonwealth’s broader commitments to veterans, and Faiola cited recent fundraising for a local memorial as background on the civic investment in Fall River.

No formal policy actions or votes were taken at the event. The ceremony served to introduce the Trail and to recognize local and state partners involved in its creation.