Crisco welcomes Hall of Fame inductees at ceremony in Hartford

State Sen. Joseph Crisco, Jr. speaks Monday at Hall of Fame ceremony in the Legislative Office Building. /Contributed photo

HARTFORD – Building on the intellect, hard work, fame, and bravery that have been the hallmarks of Connecticut residents for centuries, state Sen. Joseph Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, Monday helped unveil the 2016 inductees to the Connecticut Hall of Fame: actress Meryl Streep, American Revolution patriot Nathan Hale, state militia General Henry Burbeck, dentist Horace Wells, and author and advocate Helen Keller.

The ceremony, held this morning in the second floor atrium of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, is the eighth Connecticut Hall of Fame class inducted since its creation in 2006. 

Previous inductees include Mark Twain, Katherine Hepburn, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Robert Ballard, Dave Brubeck, and others.

“Throughout nearly 400 years of Connecticut history, we have been home to some of the most fascinating, talented, productive and intelligent people on the planet. Every time someone is inducted into the Connecticut Hall of Fame, I am reminded of what a great state we live in,” Crisco said. “Today was no different. Six men and women with creativity, passion, commitment and bravery are now a part of our honor roll of state residents. I expect to add more names next year, and the year after that, because that’s just the kind of people that Connecticut grows and attracts to live and work here.”

This year’s inductees include three men and two women with deep roots in Connecticut:

• Meryl Streep of Salisbury, the theater, television, and film actress who has won two Academy Awards and numerous other acting honors.

• Nathan Hale of Coventry, an American soldier and spy for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War who is the Connecticut State hero and is well-known for his final words, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

• General Henry Burbeck, commander of the Connecticut State Militia in New London during the War of 1812 who came up with the idea for the West Point military academy.

• Horace Wells, a Hartford dentist who pioneered the use of surgical anesthesia

• Helen Keller, a deaf and blind American author and activist who resided in Easton for the final 32 years of her life.

Founded in 2006, The Connecticut Hall of Fame is intended to recognize the outstanding achievements of Connecticut individuals and serve as an educational tool for those visiting the state Capitol and Legislative Office Building.

This is a press release from Crisco's office.