FEBRUARY 2026 | SWAMPSCOTT, MA – Executive Director Sarah Sweeney was recognized today at the Massachusetts State House as a 2026 honoree during the Commonwealth’s annual Iwo Jima Remembrance Day ceremony hosted by the Marine Corps League. She received the Gung Ho Community Service Award.
The ceremony – themed “Uncommon Valor Was a Common Virtue” – was held in Memorial Hall and commemorated the 81st Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, honoring service and sacrifice while recognizing a small group of 2026 honorees, including:
- State Rep. Joe McGonagle
- David Porter, USMC
- Sarah Sweeney, Military Friends Foundation
During her remarks, Sweeney highlighted the lasting legacy of Iwo Jima and connected it to the families MFF serves, saying: “Today, that same unbreakable spirit lives on in our Gold Star Families… This award belongs to you.”