Nominations Encouraged for

Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame

June 30^th deadline to nominate vets for post-military life achievements

            The Connecticut Department of Veterans’ Affairs is encouraging all citizens to nominate distinguished veterans who have made a difference in their communities and lives to the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.  

The deadline for applications for the Class of 2009 is June 30^th. 

          Ten Connecticut veterans are inducted each year based on recommendations from an executive committee and final selection by the Governor.   Forty current and former citizens of Connecticut have been inducted to date into the Veterans Hall of Fame, including five recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. 

            Governor M. Jodi Rell created the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame in 2005 through Executive Order No. 5 to recognize the post-military achievements of generations of outstanding veterans from the state, living or deceased, and to spotlight their contributions to their community, including education, public safety, volunteer organizations, elected office, recreation and other areas of public service.

            Veterans who served in all military conflicts are eligible for nomination, including World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan and Iraq.

“I encourage all citizens to consider nominating men and women they know who have sacrificed so much to defend our homeland and then returned home, fully committed to improving the lives of others,” said Dr. Linda S. Schwartz, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “Such natural leaders are an inspiration to all of us and deserving of lasting respect and recognition in the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.  This is one of the most lasting ways you can say ‘thank you’ to that special patriot in your community or life.  We are an enriched state because of the generations of veterans from Connecticut who have returned home from dedicated military service and continued to make life-long contributions to our communities as civilians.”

           The Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame is not a military Hall of Fame. Veterans selected for induction must have honorably served their country in the U.S. Armed Forced and continued to serve their fellow man by their deeds and accomplishments throughout their lifetime.  Nominations for deceased veterans are also accepted.

            Among the requirements to be eligible for the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame, the nominee must have been born in Connecticut or resided here for at least five years; the nominee must meet the definition of a “veteran” under the Connecticut General Statutes 27-103; and the nominee must have received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces.  

            Nomination packets must not exceed five 8˝-by-11 pages and must be received by June 30, 2009 at the Office of the Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, 287 West Street, Rocky Hill, Connecticut 06067.  Nominations received after June 30 will be considered for the following year’s class.

            For more information including a nominating packet, please visit www.ct.gov/ctva.

Nomination packets are also available by calling the Connecticut Department of Veterans’ Affairs at (860) 721-5818.