Veterans to host Memorial Day ceremony

HARTFORD — A public Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Connecticut State Veterans Memorial at 300 Capitol Ave. Friday at 12 p.m. The 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. The outdoor memorial is open every day and there is no admission fee.

This will be the first Memorial Day Ceremony ever held at the Connecticut State Veterans Memorial, which officially opened Nov. 9, 2015. The event is hosted by the Connecticut State Veterans Memorial, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization that established Connecticut’s first statewide veterans’ memorial to pay tribute to the state’s past heroes and heroines, honor today’s veterans, and demonstrate 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.

The May 24 ceremony will include color guards and speakers, including Commissioner Thomas J. Saadi of the state Department of Veterans Affairs; Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz; Major General Francis J. Evon, adjutant general of the Connecticut National Guard; a Gold Star Mother; Linda Schwartz, former assistant secretary for policy and planning of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and a former Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs; and CTSVM Co-Presidents Peter Galgano and Connecticut National Guard Lt. Colonel Lesbia Nieves. In case of rain, the ceremony will be held steps away inside the Legislative Office Building. No reservations are needed.

The Connecticut State Veterans Memorial is a granite colonnade structure consisting of five columns representing each branch of military service. A semi-circular granite honor wall, engraved with “Honoring Those Who Served”, acts as the memorial’s framing element. The memorial highlights various conflicts with engraved granite markers throughout the plaza, and features engraved walkway pavers, benches, specialty lighting, and custom landscaping.

Hundreds of engraved granite walkway pavers are important elements of the memorial, offering state residents a meaningful way to honor or memorialize a special U.S. veteran or military member, and the funds raised have supported the memorial’s development. The pavers are placed along walkways that run from the Legislative Office Building to the center of the Memorial plaza, and on to the Broad Street side of the memorial. Each paver costs $200 and can be engraved with the name of a U.S. veteran or military member, with his or her rank, branch of the military, and the specific years of service and conflict, if desired. 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.

The next order of pavers must be ordered by June 14, Flag Day, in order to be engraved and placed in time for 2019’s Veterans Day on Nov. 11. To obtain a form to order a 6” x 12” walkway paver or get more information about the memorial, visit the memorial’s website, www.CTHonorsVets.org or Facebook page or call 860-6163603 and ask for Tammy Marzik.