Dear Friends,

Tonight I joined many of you to watch a story on Fox25 News attempting to attack the work of my organization, Military Friends Foundation.  I stand firmly behind the work we do and as a retired SGM I would never lend my name to anything that didn’t met the highest standards.  Our veterans deserve no less.

The main subject of the story, which featured Bill Moore of Project New Hope, has completely disavowed his statements and feels his quotes were out of context.  He asked that Fox not air his interview several days ago. Bill Moore called me personally to commend the work of our organization and has posted comments to that effect on his Facebook page.

Like you, I wonder how a story like this makes it on the news.  I’m saddened to report that we have received copies of emails dating back several months showing Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Fund paid staff repeatedly searching for ways to discredit my organization to Fox25.  These emails leave no doubt where this story originated.

I may not speak in sound bites but I do speak directly.  We have more oversight than any other veterans non-profit in the state and I challenge other veterans non-profits to do the same.  As for the implication by Fox25 that my organization is not in compliance with state reporting requirements I say this – In the age of ISIS, I cannot in good conscious provide names and addresses of active military personnel. That is why we worked with closely with Iraq/Afghanistan Veteran State Representative Hank Naughton to file legislation that balances the privacy and safety of our Servicemembers with responsible oversight.

I stand by this letter I sent last week to Legislature about the work of our organization and encourage you to read it and judge for yourself. Military Friends Foundation is proud to work closely with Department of Veterans’ Services Secretary Francisco Urena, Massachusetts Gold Star Mothers President Karen Lounsbury, and Gold Star Wives President Peggy Griffin.

https://www.militaryfriends.org/open-letter-to-legislators-from-sgm-jim-kelly-in-response-to-uninformed-and-reckless-attacks-by-mass-fallen-heroes-fund/

Semper Fi,

SGM Jim Kelly (ret.), President Military Friends Foundation