Applications Open for Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame Class of 2024

ARCHIVE PHOTO – An induction into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.

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

The Hall of Fame recognizes veterans who continue to make a positive impact on the community after their military service, particularly in the areas of education, public service, the arts, volunteerism, and community and business leadership.

The application period runs until Sept. 15. Officials said the dedication ceremony for the chosen recipients will be scheduled at a later date.

Lamont said in a statement that he strongly encourages anyone who knows a prominent veteran to submit a nomination.

“Connecticut is the proud home of more than 150,000 veterans, many of whom have continued to make a positive impact on the lives of others and their communities after leaving military service. We want to honor and publicly recognize them for their leadership and service to our state,” Lamont said.

The nominations are reviewed each year by a committee consisting of Ron Welch, Connecticut Commissioner of Veterans Affairs; Maj. Gen. 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 Connecticut veterans.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said many service members returned home to serve their communities 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 way we can show how grateful we are for the service and sacrifice of our veterans — not just during their time in uniform, but throughout their lives,” she said in a statement.

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

Nomination applications can be downloaded from the Connecticut Government website. They must be submitted to the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs by September 15 and should be emailed to [email protected] or mailed via the U.S. Postal Service to:

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

Currently, 201 people have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, including five who received the Congressional Medal of Honor.