Veterans memorial paver orders open

HARTFORD — Aug. 1 is the deadline for the next order of pavers to be placed at the “Connecticut State Veterans Memorial.” The impressive granite memorial is in Hartford’s Minuteman Park on Capitol Avenue and Broad Street, across from the William A. O’Neill State Armory and the Legislative Office Building.

Each paver costs $200 and can be engraved with the name of a U.S. veteran, with his or her rank, branch of the military, and the specific years of service and conflict. Towns/cities can also purchase pavers with their town/city name engraved in honor of those who have served or serve within the town/city. All 6” x 12” pavers will be engraved in upper case block letter-style in three lines of 15 characters per line, including spaces. All verbiage will be approved by the Connecticut State Veterans Memorial, Inc. For an order form, visit www.CTHonorsVets.org or call 860-616-3603 and ask for Tammy Marzik.

This next order of pavers will be sent for personalized engraving and will be placed in early fall.

Connecticut’s first statewide veterans’ memorial pays tribute to the state’s past heroes and heroines, honors today’s veterans, and demonstrates the appreciation for their service for generations to come. It is a welcoming place for personal reflection, as well as a gathering place where groups can honor Connecticut veterans for their commitment and sacrifices. Hundreds of granite engraved pavers are important elements of the memorial and the funds raised have supported the memorial’s development. They are placed along walkways that from the Legislative Office Building to the center of the memorial plaza, and on to the Broad Street side of the memorial.

The Connecticut State Veterans Memorial officially was opened on November 9, 2015 by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. It features a granite colonnade structure consisting of five columns representing each branch of military service as the memorial’s main focal point. A semi-circular granite Honor wall with “Honoring Those Who Served” engraving acts as the memorial’s framing element. The memorial highlights various conflicts with engraved granite markers throughout the plaza. In addition to the paver walkway, there are benches, specialty lighting, and custom landscaping.

The Connecticut State Veterans Memorial, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization that was established exclusively to raise funds for and build a statewide memorial to honor all Connecticut veterans. A dedicated committee of veterans and volunteers have coordinated this landmark effort and thank the hundreds of Connecticut residents and businesses who have supported this project so far. Visit www.CTHonorsVets.org