Ansonia mayor, state lawmakers award wartime service medals to 32 veterans

Recognition ceremony held at Ansonia Armory

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco

ANSONIA - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr. (D-Woodbridge) recently helped award Connecticut Veterans Wartime Service Medals to 32 military veterans from Beacon Falls, Bethany, Woodbridge, Ansonia, and Derby as part of his ongoing commitment to recognizing the service and sacrifice of Connecticut’s fighting men and women.

Crisco helped award medals to veterans from Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other conflicts during a 90-minute ceremony at the Ansonia Armory. 

He was joined by state Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti, and state Department of Veterans’ Affairs Commissioner Sean Connolly.

“We are the land of the free because we are the home of the brave, and because of all the sacrifices you have made for our freedom,” Crisco told a crowd of veterans and their family members. 

“We will never forget your sacrifice; it never gets old, and we thank you eternally.”

“Honoring Connecticut’s wartime veterans is the right thing to do,” Gentile said. “Recognizing these heroes for their sacrifices is an expression of our gratitude.  They put their lives on the line in service to the United States and Connecticut. I am happy to be part of today’s award ceremony.” 

The Connecticut Veterans Wartime Service Medal was created by the state legislature in 2005 to honor all Connecticut veterans with qualifying wartime military service. 

Prior to 2005, the state had not honored its veterans with a wartime service medal since World War I.

For a Wartime Service Medal application, please visit:

http://www.ct.gov/ctva/cwp/view.asp?a=1992&q=313194

For a gallery of photos from the Ansonia event, and a video, please visit:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ctsenatedems/sets/72157666896485794/

http://youtu.be/Ixsj2QO3z9c

This is a press release from Crisco's office.