Senator Hassan Recognizes Matthew Ives of Peterborough as July’s Granite Stater of the Month

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Matthew Ives of Peterborough as July’s Granite Stater of the Month for his extraordinary commitment to helping others through his service as a volunteer trauma nurse in Ukraine. As a nurse with a background in emergency medical services and a graduate of Nashua Community College, Matthew has devoted his career to helping others. After witnessing the humanitarian toll of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he answered the call to serve by volunteering near the front lines. Since first traveling to Ukraine in 2024, Matthew has provided trauma care to both civilians and service members suffering from devastating injuries. Matthew has continued returning to Ukraine to train service members in lifesaving medical skills while also helping secure critical medical supplies and equipment for those providing care in combat zones. Guided by New Hampshire’s "Live Free or Die" spirit, Matthew has demonstrated a commitment to supporting people facing unimaginable hardship with remarkable compassion, courage, and selflessness. Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here . To read Senator Hassan’s statement for the Congressional Record, see below: I am honored to recognize Matthew Ives of Peterborough as July’s Granite Stater of the Month for his extraordinary commitment to helping others through his service as a volunteer trauma nurse in Ukraine. Matthew has dedicated his career to the care of others. His path into nursing began with years of service in health care, working as a lifeguard, EMT, 911 dispatcher, pharmacy technician, and ultimately graduating from nursing school at Nashua Community College. After he witnessed the suffering caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Matthew asked himself what he could do to help. He recognized a critical need for additional training in lifesaving trauma care, particularly the proper use of tourniquets to prevent otherwise survivable injuries from becoming life-threatening. In 2024, Matthew traveled to Ukraine for his first volunteer deployment. Working in a bomb-damaged stabilization point near the front lines, he treated both military personnel and civilians suffering from burns, broken bones, shrapnel wounds, and other traumatic injuries. Matthew has repeatedly returned because he knows that the need for care remains great. Even when he is back in the United States, he continues to support the people he met in Ukraine by helping secure the resources that they need to continue their lifesaving work. In addition to training and treating patients, he has personally helped provide supplies and equipment, including funding vehicles and medical equipment for those serving on the front lines. Matthew says that New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die” spirit has shaped the way tha the views the resilience of the Ukrainian people. He sees that same determination in those who continue to defend their communities despite immense hardship, refusing to surrender their freedom in the face of tyranny. His work reminds Granite Staters that courage often takes the form of quietly showing up each day to serve others, even in the most dangerous circumstances. Matthew has returned to Ukraine, where he trains Ukrainian service members in life-saving medical skills and continues to provide care on the front lines. Matthew’s compassion, courage, and selflessness are why I am proud to name him July’s Granite Stater of the Month. ###