SPRINGFIELD — More than 100 veterans, military families or Gold Star families of service members killed received Thanksgiving food boxes Tuesday through the Hero Meals program.

Demand was high this year, said Command Sgt. Maj. Bernard “Bernie” Madore, chief ambassador for Military Friends Foundation who helped with the distribution at the Springfield National Guard Armory at 1505 Roosevelt Ave.

This is the third year of the food distribution by Military Friends Foundation and Massachusetts National Guard Enlisted Association supported by the fundraising charity Tough Ruck.

The groups distributed meals this week in Springfield, Swampscott and at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford.

Madore was one of the National Guard soldiers near the finish line at the 2013 Boston Marathon and respon

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