HARTFORD WILL BE HOME TO FIRST STATE MEMORIAL HONORING ALL CONNECTICUT VETERANS

(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy, joined by Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Linda S. Schwartz, state officials, and veterans, today announced plans to build the State of Connecticut's first memorial honoring all Connecticut veterans. The Connecticut State Veterans Memorial will be constructed in Minuteman Park across from the William A. O'Neill State Armory in Hartford and will break ground this fall.

"This memorial is an enduring tribute to the 1.3 million Connecticut Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have served this state and the nation, and reflects our deep appreciation and gratitude to the men and women whose continuing efforts protect and defend this country," Governor Malloy said. "Thanks to the hard work and commitment of the Connecticut State Veterans Memorial Board and Commissioner Schwartz, I'm proud to announce the first state memorial that will honor the contributions of veterans throughout Connecticut's history."

The Connecticut State Veterans Memorial, Inc., a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated exclusively to the funding, design, and construction of the site, is in the planning phase of a memorial that will raise awareness of the contributions made by veterans from across Connecticut and serve as a reminder of the high regard the citizens of Connecticut have for our service members.

"There are few things more important that a state and its citizens can do than to remember those who served and sacrificed for our freedom, and there is no better place for Connecticut to do that than in the heart of our capital city," Lt. Governor Wyman said. "The service and bravery of our military men and women has kept our nation strong, and this very public tribute to them will make us a stronger state. It will give our veterans the respect they deserve, and for the rest of us will be a constant reminder of what their service means to our lives."

The memorial will recognize past, present, and future Connecticut veterans and will be a site for official observances, activities, and ceremonies that honor veterans.

"Minuteman Park, in the shadow of our State Capitol building, is a very fitting place to honor the more than 1.3 million Connecticut citizens who have served our nation, in defense of peace and freedom," Commissioner Schwartz said. "Today, there are over 277,000 veterans living in Connecticut, but no central location where we can hold ceremonies on Memorial Day and Veterans Day to officially recognize and honor them and remember veterans who are no longer with us. In fact, over the years, many veterans groups and individual veterans have asked our State Department of Veterans Affairs why a memorial to honor veterans was not established on this site before."

For more information about the Connecticut State Veterans Memorial, visit www.cthonorsvets.org or call 860-616-3603.