The memorial honors the five branches of the military, U.S. wars and conflicts, and Connecticut's veterans.
Governor Dannel Malloy addressed veterans, federal, state and local officials Monday at the dedication of the state's first memorial honoring those in Connecticut who have served the nation.
The Connecticut State Veterans Memorial, located at Minuteman Park near the Capitol building and the State Armory, pays tribute to the more than 1.3 million Connecticut men and women who honorably served in the U.S. military since the Revolutionary War.
The memorial recognizes past, present, and future Connecticut veterans and will also serve as a site for official observances, activities, and ceremonies that honor veterans.
Joining Malloy to commemorate the memorial were the Connecticut State Veterans Memorial Board of Directors, Connecticut Military Department Adjutant General Thaddeus Martin, Connecticut Department of Veterans’ Affairs Commissioner Sean Connolly, and other officials.
Watch the video ceremony below, courtesy of CT-N:
The memorial features pillars representing the five branches of the military, large stones reflecting U.S. wars and conflicts, and smaller pavers engraved with the names of Connecticut veterans.
"It is especially gratifying that so many veterans organizations and families of veterans stepped forward and helped to support the construction of this project," said Sergeant Peter Galgano, Jr., co-president of the Connecticut State Veterans Memorial Board of Directors.
“The hard work it took to make this memorial possible goes to show just how much Connecticut’s citizens care about those who answered their nation’s call,” Major General Martin said.
WNPR's Diane Orson contributed to this report. Leyda Quast is an intern at WNPR.