House Republican Press Release

 

 

 

February 22, 2006

Press Office: 860-240-8700

 

Rep. Kalinowski Named to Veterans’ Hall of Fame Committee

 

Invites Nominations of Outstanding Connecticut Veterans to be Considered for Inclusion

State Rep. Raymond C. Kalinowski, R-100th, has been appointed to serve as a member of the Connecticut Veterans’ Hall of Fame 2006 Executive Committee that is responsible for selecting this year’s 10 inductees.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell appointed Rep. Kalinowski on the recommendation of House Minority Leader Robert M. Ward, R-86th, who recognized Rep. Kalinowski’s long support of veterans. Rep. Kalinowski is one of the seven members on the Executive Committee that is being established to review this year’s nominations.

“It is a distinct honor to help the governor and the state recognize all veterans, and particularly those with outstanding records of service to our nation and their communities,” said Rep. Kalinowski. “It will be difficult task to choose only 10 Connecticut veterans to receive the distinction of inclusion in  the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.”

Rep. Kalinowski urged members of the public to submit nominations for the Hall of Fame. Nominations can be of veterans, either living or deceased. Further information is available on the Internet at www.ct.gov/governorrell and clicking on CT Veterans Hall of Fame.

Governor Rell created the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame in 2005 to recognize the post-military achievements of generations of outstanding veterans from the state, living or deceased, and to spotlight their contributions to their community, including education, public safety, politics, recreation and other areas of public service.

Veterans who served in all military conflicts will be considered, including World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and Iraq.

“Generation after generation of veterans from Connecticut have returned home from their duties and continued to make life-long contributions to our communities as civilians,” Governor Rell said in creating the Hall of Fame last year. “The Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame is another way of saying ‘thank you’ to those veterans of all conflicts who have given so much to their community after military service. They are models of the spirit of public service.

“Men and women who haven taken up arms to secure and defend our homeland have demonstrated time and again their courage, heroism and commitment to improving the lives of others,” the Governor said. “They are an inspiration to all of us and deserving of lasting respect and recognition in the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.”

Governor Rell emphasized that the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame is not a military Hall of Fame. Veterans selected for induction must have honorably served their country in the military and continued to serve their fellow man by their deeds and accomplishments throughout their lifetime. Nominations for deceased veterans will also be accepted.

Ten Connecticut veterans are inducted each year, with the ceremony taking place annually around Veterans Day.

Among the requirements to be eligible for the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame, the nominee must have been born in Connecticut or resided here for at least five years; the nominee must meet the definition of a “veteran” under the Connecticut General Statutes 27-103; and the nominee must have received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces and/or the Connecticut National Guard.

Rep. Kalinowski serves the 100th Assembly District of Middletown, Middlefield and Durham in the state House of Representatives. He is a U.S. Air Force veteran and a member of the American Legion.