Special to the Record
In observance of Veterans Day, all Chelsea municipal buildings, apart from public safety buildings, will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
Trash and recycling will not be collected on the holiday, resulting in a one-day delay in collection for the remainder of the week. Enforcement of the Residential Parking Program will also be suspended on November 11 at 12 a.m. and will resume on Wednesday, November 12, at 12 a.m. During this time, parking restrictions for street sweeping will not be enforced.
Chelsea veterans and their families are invited to Chelsea’s Veterans Day ceremony and lunch hosted by the Chelsea Veteran Services Department and Chelsea Public Schools on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Clark Avenue Middle School (8 Clark Ave., Chelsea, MA).
During the ceremony, veterans and their families can connect with local veterans and hear from speakers including Juan Valdez, a Marine Corps Veteran and Purple Heart recipient, who toured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Valdez currently works for the Wounded Warrior Project, the nation’s leading veterans service organization dedicated to supporting the mental, physical, emotional, and financial well-being of post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families.
The free event, which is open to the public, aims to honor and thank those who have sacrificed to serve our nation.
Francisco Toro, Director of Veterans of Affairs for the City, hopes that by partnering with WWP, they may help WWP provide veterans and families with mental health care, physical wellness, long-term rehab, financial stability, and community connection. These services give warriors the support they need to heal and thrive.
“We’re proud to partner with the Wounded Warrior Project – an organization that delivers real support to Chelsea Veterans, from job help to social programs,” said Toro. “The best way to honor our veterans is to serve them well. As George Washington said, how we treat today’s veterans will shape how tomorrow’s service members choose to serve. WWP helps us make this possible.”
The Chelsea community is invited to attend the ceremonies, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Speakers will include
• Juan Valdez, United States Marine Veteran and Purple Heart recipient
• Jason E. Moore, B.A., M.Div., BCC, chaplain and retired Major for the U.S. Army;
• Fidel Maltez, Chelsea City Manager;
• Norieliz De Jesus, Chelsea City Council President;
• Leo Robinson, Chelsea City Councilor-at-Large;
• Francisco Toro, Chelsea’s Director of Veterans Services;
• Judith Garcia, Massachusetts Representative
• Sal DiDomenico, Massachusetts Senator;
• Dr. Almudena Abeyta, Superintendent of Chelsea Public Schools.
For more information, please visit www.chelseama.gov or contact Chelsea Veterans Services at (617) 466-4250 or Veterans Services Director Francisco Toro at [email protected].
For questions about the City’s ceremony, closures, or trash and recycling delay, community members can contact Chelsea 311 at 617-466-4209.