STATE of CONNECTICUT

BY HER EXCELLENCY

M. JODI RELL

GOVERNOR

Executive Order No. 44A

Executive Order No. 44 is hereby repealed in its entirety and replaced with the text hereof:

Whereas, April 2011 marks the 150^th anniversary of the beginning of the American Civil War; and

WHEREAS, the Civil War continued for four years, ending at the Appomattox Courthouse on  April 9, 1865; and

Whereas, during the course of the Civil War, Connecticut supplied some thirty infantry units, one light artillery unit, two heavy artillery units and two cavalry units, which represented more than 54,000 men, more than one-tenth of Connecticut’s population of 461,000 and forty-seven percent of men between the ages of 15-50; and

Whereas, Governor William A. Buckingham was a staunch supporter of the Union and his leadership in support of the Union and Abraham Lincoln’s war efforts was instrumental to the nation’s survival; and

Whereas, Connecticut factories supplied the union armies and navy with arms, munitions and other supplies; and

Whereas, on the Connecticut home front, the efforts of untold numbers of women contributed to the supply and comfort of their husbands, sons, and fathers fighting at the front; and

Whereas, some 140 Civil War monuments may be found on Connecticut town greens and other locations throughout the state; and

Whereas, it is important for Connecticut residents to better understand the Civil War’s legacies as they relate to issues of service, sacrifice, and slavery;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, M. Jodi Rell, Governor of the State of Connecticut, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Connecticut, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:  

1. That there shall be established the Connecticut Civil War Commemoration Commission (hereinafter “the Commission”);
   
   
2. That the following volunteers shall be appointed to the Commission: 

• Matthew Warshauer, Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University, who shall be the chairperson;
• Barbara Alleyne, President, John E. Rogers African American Cultural Center;
• Marc Bassos, Fireside Patriots (Civil War Re-enactors);
• Glenn A. Cassis, Director, African American Affairs Commission;
• Booker DeVaughn, President Emeritus, Three Rivers Community College;
• Mary Donahue, Commission on Culture & Tourism;
• Catherine Fields, Executive Director, Litchfield Historical Society;
• Lawrence Gill;
• Dr. Glenn Gordinier, Mystic Seaport - The Museum of America and the Sea;
• Senator Jonathon Harris;
• Kathy Maher, Executive Director, Barnum Museum;
• Elizabeth Norman;
• Dana L. Schaffer, Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition;
• Marc Shafer;
• Diane Smith;
• Shirley Wadja, Project Historian;
• Sally Whipple, Director of Education and Community Programming,  
  Connecticut's Old State House;
• Olivia S. White,  Executive Director, The Amistad Center for Art and Culture At The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art;
• Kendall Wiggin, Connecticut State Librarian; and
• Walter Woodward, Connecticut State Historian. 

3. That the Commission shall receive assistance and cooperation from the State Departments of Education, Higher Education and Veterans’ Affairs, the Connecticut Military Department and Adjutant General, the Connecticut State Library and Archives, the Museum of Connecticut History, and the Commission on Culture and Tourism; and

4. That the Commission shall lead efforts to commemorate Connecticut’s role and history in the Civil War, research and make prioritized recommendations on the most effective and beneficial ways for the State of Connecticut to commemorate the Civil War, implement such recommendations by working with appropriate state and local agencies and historical and educational institutions, coordinate communications between the State of Connecticut and other state organizations involved in commemorating the Civil War, and throughout the four-year commemorative period generally support efforts to honor Connecticut’s role in the Civil War and inform and educate our residents about one of our nation’s most trying episodes.
   
   
5. The Commission will require no staffing or resources from the Governor’s Office.

This order shall take effect immediately.

Dated at Hartford this day of September 2010.

M. Jodi Rell

Governor

By Her Excellency’s Command:

Susan Bysiewicz

Secretary of the State