Applications open for 2024 class of the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Nominations for the 2024 class of the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame are open now through September, Governor Ned Lamont announced Monday.

The Hall of Fame recognizes veterans who have continued making positive impacts on their community after leaving military service- especially in the areas of education, public service, the arts, volunteer activities, and community and business leadership.

The application period will be open until Sept. 15. Officials said the induction ceremony for chosen recipients will be scheduled at a later time.

In a statement, Lamont said he strongly encourages anyone who knows a distinguished veterans to submit a nomination.

“Connecticut is the proud home of more than one hundred and fifty thousand veterans, many of whom continued making positive impacts on the lives of others and their communities after leaving military service, and we want to honor and publicly recognize them for their leadership and service that they have provided our state,” Lamont said.

The nominations are reviewed by a committee each year, made up of Connecticut Veterans Affairs Commissioner Ron Welch; Major General Francis J. Evon Jr., adjutant general of the Connecticut National Guard; members of the legislature’s Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs; and a group of veterans from Connecticut.

Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said many service members returned home only to continue serving their community and fellow veterans.

“Through their efforts they have enriched and improved their communities and the lives of others. The Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame is just one more way we can show how grateful we are for our veterans’ service and sacrifice – not just during their time in uniform, but throughout their lives,” she said in a statement.

Nominees must have been born in Connecticut or resided in the state for at least five years. To be eligible, they must also meet the definition of a “veteran” under state statute and have an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces.

Nomination applications can be downloaded on the Connecticut government website. They must be submitted to the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs by Sept. 15 and should be delivered by email to lindsay.jesshop@ct.gov or mailed through the U.S. Postal Service to:

• Office of the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs
  287 West Street
  Rocky Hill, CT 06067

At this time, 201 honorees have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, including five who received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.