Winchendon, MA- On Wednesday June 24, 2026 Commodore Builders hosted a “topping off” ceremony for the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center’s housing expansion project.
This ceremony marked the successful completion of structural work at the Poland and Streeter School redevelopment site, which will soon host 44 apartments for the region’s veteran population. At this milestone ceremony, local supporters of the project along with city and state officials joined together to watch as the final component of structural framework was hoisted to the highest point of the building.
Pictured from left to right: Joe Albanese (Commodore Builders Founder & CEO), State Representative Susannah Whipps, State Representative Jon Zlotnik, Cathy McWilliams (MVOC Founder & President), Secretary Eric Goralnick (Massachusetts Executive Office of Veteran Services), and Stephanie Marchetti (MVOC Executive Director)
Prior to the hoist, event attendees signed the beam, which was anchored with both a pine tree and American flag. Dating back to Norse culture from 700 A.D., this tradition takes the time to appreciate the forests that provided material for this meaningful project (the pine tree anchor), and how it has paid it forward to support our population of veterans (the American flag anchor).
We thank Commodore, the larger Veteran owned construction company in New England, for organizing this event and securing the site so that our community could enjoy this milestone with us! We look forward to welcoming 44 new veterans home in spring 2027.
