Klarides-Ditria: Final military honors planned for 8 veterans' unclaimed remains

The Connecticut State Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, Inc. have announced they will hold a military funeral ceremony for eight U.S. veterans’ unclaimed cremated remains. 

The remains are those of veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony on Oct. 1 (rain or shine) at 10:30 a.m. at the State Veterans Cemetery 317 Bow Lane, Middletown. DVA Commissioner Thomas J. Saadi will lead the ceremony which will be supported by the directors of various funeral homes from across the state. In attendance will be local, state and federal Officials and members of Veterans Organizations. Commissioner Saadi, CFDA President David W. MacDonald, and other dignitaries will deliver remarks during the ceremony that will include the posthumous presentation of Connecticut Wartime Service Medals. Masks are strongly encouraged even though the event is outdoors.

At 9:40 a.m., the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Patriot Guard Riders will escort four CFDA hearses containing the cremains of the eight Veterans from the DVA Rocky Hill Campus to the Veterans Cemetery in Middletown.

This is the seventh such ceremony hosted by the DVA in coordination with the CFDA since 2009 when Connecticut established new protocols to identify unclaimed cremated remains of honorably discharged U.S. veterans in Connecticut funeral homes with the goal of providing them a dignified burial with full military honors.

Sincerely,

Klarides-Ditria: CT Department of Veterans Affairs to hold Stand Down in Rocky Hill

The Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs  announced Veterans STAND DOWN 2021 will take place on Sept. 22-24.  While the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way agencies and organizations operate, the DVA continues its commitment to serving Connecticut’s Veterans by providing this “one stop” access to a range of programs and services offered by state and federal agencies, Veterans organizations, and community-based non-profits through online webinars and at five regional sites across the State. Stand Down 2021 includes all National Guard, Reserve, and Active-Duty Personnel serving in Connecticut.    PROGRAMS AND BENEFITS ONLINE PRESENTATIONS Sept. 22 and 23 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. STAND DOWN 2021 will begin with a kickoff ceremony on Sept. 22 at 9 a.m. which will be broadcast live via social media from the DVA Auditorium at our Rocky Hill Campus.  This will be followed by informational webinars on Sept. 22 and 23 on a variety of topics will be conducted by the DVA, Federal VA, State & Federal agencies, and community providers. REGIONAL SITES ACROSS CT / IN-PERSON SERVICES Sept. 24 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Veterans attending will have access to a variety of in-person services, personal need items, vaccinations, legal services, medical screenings, and meals to go provided by the DVA, Federal VA, Veteran Organizations, many other State & Federal agencies, and community providers. Bridgeport: Port 5 National Association of Navy Veterans, 69 Brewster Street Danbury: Danbury War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive Danielson: Quinebaug Valley Community College, 742 Upper Maple Street Norwich: Easter Seals Veterans Rally Point, 24 Stott Avenue Rocky Hill: CT DVA Rocky Hill Campus, 287 West Street For additional information and to register for Stand Down 2021 please visit: https://portal.ct.gov/DVA/Pages/Veterans-Stand-Down

Sincerely, This is a press release from state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, R-Seymour, who represents the 105th District.

Save the date: Stand Down slated next month in Rocky Hill

Veterans Stand Down 2017 slated in Rocky Hill

The event will provide Connecticut veterans with access to federal, state, and local services such as: veterans' benefits, medical, dental, mental health, recovery services, legal, housing, employment, education, and more.

*Information shared from a Connecticut government site.