Lowell Veterans Commission Plans Three Events, Weighs Pet Kennel Grant for Homeless Vets

LOWELL -- September 10, 2025, Lowell Veterans Commission returns from summer break with Veterans Day, July Fourth plans. The commission held its first post-summer meeting September 10, welcoming new members and a guest counselor from the Lowell Vet Center, with Paul Paradise presiding as chair and Veterans Agent Eric Lamsh drawing recognition for his office's work helping city-employed veterans obtain DD Form 214 documents to buy back military service credit. No formal votes were taken, but the group set three target events, a November 10 Veterans Day ceremony likely in City Hall's foyer, a Memorial Day event possibly at the new Douglas Road park, and a Fourth of July celebration tied to the nation's 250th anniversary, while acknowledging the city absorbed significant budget cuts this fiscal year. The commission discussed pursuing kennel services for homeless veterans unwilling to surrender pets for housing, referencing a federal grant described in the meeting as $1,800 million available to veterans groups, and agreed informally to invite a staff member from Congresswoman Tran's office to brief the October meeting on pending veterans legislation. Officer elections for chair, vice chair, and secretary are scheduled for October.