Nominations sought for vets’ hall

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Thomas Saadi recently announced that the DVA is accepting nominations of distinguished veterans who have made significant contributions to their communities after leaving military service to the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame. The deadline is Sept. 11.

According to a statement, the nominee must have been born in or resided in Connecticut for a minimum of five years and meet the definition of a “veteran” under the Connecticut General Statutes 27-103; and received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces.

The nomination must contain the completed nomination form, the veteran’s discharge documents, a detailed narrative of the veteran’s community and/or public service at the local, state and/or national level and the Veteran’s contributions to the community at large. Letters of recommendation and copies of news articles highlighting postmilitary community service are encouraged. The focus is on a veteran’s service to community after leaving the military.

Up to 10 Connecticut veterans will be inducted this year, based on the results of a rigorous review process by the selection committee which includes veterans, leaders of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Saadi and Bysiewicz. To date 156 current and former residents of Connecticut have been inducted into the Veterans

Hall of Fame, including five recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, according to the statement.

“Every year, the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame honors heroes who courageously served their country and have now dedicated their lives to making a difference in their local communities. These veterans continue to inspire us in every facet of our lives. Whether it’s through education, public service, volunteer work, civic engagement, or community leadership, our brave men and women in uniform continue to put the needs of others first. Let us continue to honor their lasting legacies of service by giving them the recognition they deserve,” Bysiewicz said.

Nomination packets must be received by Sept. 11 at the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, ATTN: Veterans Hall of Fame, 287 West Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. For more information and to obtain a nomination packet go to: https://portal.ct.gov/DVA/Pages/CTVeterans-Hall-of-Fame.