Politics & Government

Gov. Rell Asks Residents to Donate to Veterans Memorial

The project is slated to begin by Veterans' Day.

Governor M. Jodi Rell today unveiled the winning design for the statewide memorial that will be built in Rocky Hill to provide a place of honor and reflection for the service of all Connecticut  veterans – past, present and future.

In order to get the memorial built, though, Rell is asking residents and businesses to contribute to a fundraising effort to help pay for its construction.

The memorial will be located next to the Col. Raymond F. Gates Memorial Cemetery on West Street in Rocky Hill, across from the state Department of Veterans' Affairs. The construction of the memorial is slated to begin by Veterans' Day 2010.

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 "Today, we are taking another big step forward in creating a striking, statewide memorial to honor all Connecticut veterans – living and deceased – who proudly served our country," Rell said in a news release issued Monday afternoon. "I feel strongly that an official statewide memorial is an important way to show our deep appreciation for our veterans' service and sacrifice. It will be a place of honor, reflection and tribute for our veterans, their families and citizens of Connecticut – and it is long overdue."

 Twelve proposals for the memorial were submitted to the Commission on Culture and Tourism. The winning design was submitted by two landscape architects, Dean Adams Johnson (FASLA) and Robert C. Schechinger, Jr., (ASLA) of Collinsville. It features a tree-lined central walkway that will show a timeline of the battles that have been fought from the Revolutionary War up to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as statements honoring those who have served and a special distinction for those who died in combat.

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The walkway would lead to a wall with statements honoring past, present and future veterans as well as logos for each of the major Armed Forces. There will be openings along the wall to enter an amphitheater which will have a speaker's platform, a 'source of life' fountain and ample seating for events that take place at the memorial.

Rell said her goal is to raise funds from Connecticut citizens, businesses, veterans groups and others to support the design and construction of the project.

"In December, we raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in just a few weeks to bring 700 troops 'Home for the Holidays' before their deployment to  Iraq  and Afghanistan," Rell said. "I am confident Connecticut residents, businesses, veterans and others will once again demonstrate their overwhelming generosity, because there are few projects more deserving than this one.

The Governor began the effort to build a statewide memorial in November 2008 and provided $100,000 in seed money through capital funding to help support its initial design and construction. She established the Connecticut State Veterans Memorial Foundation, which helped secure its 501c3 tax-exempt status, selected the site to build the memorial, launched the design competition and recommended a final design for consideration by the Governor.

To make a donation to the fundraising effort, checks and money orders should be made payable to Connecticut State Veterans Memorial, Inc. and mailed to: Connecticut State Veterans Memorial, Inc., c/o Rockville Bank, P.O. Box 660, Rockville, CT 06066. More information can be found by visiting www.cthonorsvets.org.


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