Worcester Regional Airport celebrates veterans, return of commercial service
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WORCESTER — Worcester Regional Airport celebrated the return of commercial service in a ceremony Wednesday and, in recognition of Veterans Day, announced charitable donations to local nonprofit Veterans Inc.
“Today is a milestone worth celebrating,” Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said of the return of commercial service to the airport. She then thanked Delta Air Lines, JetBlue and American Airlines for their dedication to the airport and “the fulfillment of the promise that you would come back.
“This is a cause for celebration,” Polito continued.
Delta, JetBlue and American have all recently restarted service at Worcester Regional Airport after suspending operations due to the pandemic. They are offering trips from Worcester to New York’s John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports, Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Philadelphia.
“A lot of people gave up on this airport,” State Rep. Jim O’Day said, after speakers noted that the pandemic marked the second time in the airport’s history that it had been without commercial flights. “We never have.”
And U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, said the return of service was “just the beginning.”
He touted the bipartisan Infrastructure bill soon to be signed by President Joe Biden, noting it delivers $12.5 billion to Massachusetts, including $244 million just for airports.
“We’re just getting started in Congress,” McGovern said. “Similarly, the return of service to the airport is just the beginning.”
In recognition of Veterans Day, the airlines also each donated two round-trip ticket vouchers to Veterans Inc.
The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), owner and operator of the airport, also is collecting food to give to the organization.
Vincent Perrone, president and CEO of Veterans Inc., said that the food would be used at an event that feeds 3,000 people, and that over the past 30 years, the organization has helped 90,000 veterans and veterans’ family members deal with homelessness, substance abuse and other challenges.
“We can’t do this alone,” Perrone said, thanking the assembled guests.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Regional Airport Veterans Day Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito James P. McGovern
