Trees of Honor Memorial Day in Photos-

Photos from Middletown's new Trees of Honor installation at Veteran's park taken by local Army Veteran & our own favorite blogger SteadyJohn! 

Remembered here are the Connecticut fallen from Iraq and Afghanistan; approximately 75 men and 2 women. Each soldier has a tree planted in their honor and a black granite stone with photo etching. 
Looking forward to the completion of this memorial. Thank you for your service & for the capturing these powerful images.
http://cttreesofhonor.com/about-the-memorial/

Congratulations to New American Legion Officers Middletown Post 75 & Veteran News

Jerry Augstine/credit Augustine

 Milardo Wilcox American Legion Post 75 of Middletown has installed new officers for the upcoming year.

Congratulations for the new offices which include: Larry Riley, commander; Michael Rogalski, adjutant; Ken McClellan, senior vice commander; Cheryl McClellan, finance officer; Jerry Augustine, chaplain; Ron Organek, historian; and Calvin Hilton, service officer.
Cheryl McClellan is a Middletown board of education member, & Jerry Augustine has been a very popular guest blogger for the Insider. Augustine's last contribution ( and we certainly hope for more Jerry!) can be read here: http://www.middletowninsider.com/2014/06/guestblog-1576-steps-by-jerry-augustine.html

Local Veteran events for the fall:
Veterans of the Vietnam War of Middletown will be meeting on Oct. 7, the first Tuesday of the month, at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 58 Bernie O’Rourke Drive, Middletown.
VFW Post 583 meetingOct. 1, at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 58 Bernie O’Rourke Drive.
American Legion Post 75 Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 58 Bernie O’Rourke Drive.

VFW Post 1840  meetingOct. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 58 Bernie O’Rourke Drive.
 
D.A.V. Chapter 7  meeting on Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 58 Bernie O’Rourke Drive. All veterans are welcome.

 Greater Middletown Military Museum will meet Oct. 21, the third Tuesday of the month, at 7 p.m., at the American Legion Hall, 58 Bernie O’Rourke Drive.

The Catholic War Veterans Post 1166 meeting Oct. 15, at 7 p.m., at St. Mary’s Church Rectory, 79 South Main St., Middletown

American Legion Post 206 will be meeting on Oct. 16, the third Thursday, at 6 p.m. at Page Hall on the Connecticut Valley Hospital campus in Middletown.

The Middletown Council of Veterans are to gather on Oct. 28, the fourth Tuesday of the month, at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 58 Bernie O’Rourke Drive.

In addition The Trees of Honor Inc. is hosting a fundraiser in November:
Bill Maune has posted an article on Patch with video & tribute song from a combat veteran's widow here: http://patch.com/connecticut/middletown-ct/trees-are-planted-veterans-memorial-park#.VCWdC53D86Y
November 1st, Ct. Trees Of Honor Dinner-Dance & Auction 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Location: Laurel View Country Club, Hamden, CT.
Description: Salute to veterans dinner/dance and auction to benefit the Connecticut Trees of Honor Memorial building fund.
General Admission is $60. Dress code is Black Tie or Cowboy Boots and everything in between.
Fun Silent Auction to include bidding on a dance with a Veteran or V.I.P. General and dancing throughout the night to live music by 42nd Street Band.
Auctioneer, WDRC Radio Personality, Brad Davis. Tickets sales will open soon and will be available on our website : http://cttreesofhonor.com/

Trees of Honor Memorial Middletown: Celebrate Local Hero's this Independence Day

July 2014 from the Tress of Honor Memorial Newsletter

Connecticut Trees of Honor Memorial, Inc.
Walnut Grove Road
Middletown, CT

Message from Sue Martucci, CTHM Inc. President

We are pleased to report that construction of the Memorial is fully underway.  Trees have been cleared, backbreaking trenching has been completed and silt fencing installed, surveying and staking has been done,  more than half a dozen pieces of heavy equipment are on site and running every day and excavating and digging out a new reflecting pond and shaping the walkway around the pond is taking place!

What is truly amazing is that this project is underway with incredible volunteers and all our equipment is being donated to us.  Companies and organizations donating manpower and expertise include:

 *   United Rentals of Bloomfield
 *   Retired and Apprentice Operating Engineers Local 478
 *   Dutton & Associates of Glastonbury – Surveyors
 *   Steve Nelson, Architect - Moser, Pilon, Nelson of Wethersfield
 *   Tom Linden, Linden Landscape Architects, LLC of Wethersfield
 *   Jim Horahan, Custom Tree Care LLC of Glastonbury
 *   Joe Butler, Distinctive Gardens & Tree Care LLC of South Windsor
 *   On-Site Services Inc. of Clinton and their employees.
 *   Middletown Office of Emergency Management
 *   Lee Wilson, Computers by Lee, LLC and Commander, Avon VFW Post 3272
 *   Mark Babineau, Old Cider Mill Landscaping of Glastonbury
We also want to thank Sean of Jukonski Truck Sales, Middletown for coming every few days to grease all the machines.

We are ever grateful to Gold Star father Jon Miller of On-Site Services in Clinton for being on the job daily to coordinate the workers and supervise operations, Brian Kronenberger of Kronenberger & Sons Restoration Company of Middletown for being construction advisor and liaison with City of Middletown officials, neighbor and veteran Tony Rosa for operating equipment and helping where needed.

Middletown business owners have been wonderful in contributing to feed our workers lunch every day and include:

Wendy's, Subway, Illianos, Nardellis, Roma Pizza, Dunkin Donuts, Nardellis, Tom Hartke (veteran and supporter)

This month we will see the completion of excavation and digging. Our hero trees will be planted and each hero’s granite post and personalized plaque will be installed.  Three handsome flagpoles will be installed and the entire Memorial area will be mulched and hydro seeded.

Committee members are busy working to finalize designs for the Flag Ceremonial and Entrance plazas, meeting with sculptors and soliciting donations for concrete pavers for the walkway and plazas.

How can you help? Do you know a company that sells concrete pavers and willing to donate a pallet or two?  We need 150 pallets.  Can you donate gift cards to fast food restaurants or chain grocery stores so we can continue to provide lunch for our hard working volunteers?

Stop by the park any time to check out the progress and meet our wonderful volunteers and don’t forget to check out all the great photos of construction progress on our Facebook page.

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming fundraisers later this year and don’t forget the July 28th Trees of Honor Golf Classic at Lyman Orchards to benefit CTHM.

Happy Summer!

Volunteers Needed
Show your support for all veterans by becoming a CTHM Volunteer!

CTHM is currently seeking volunteers to serve in various capacities.

 *   Construction professionals are still needed to volunteer a few hours, a few days, or a few weeks during our Spring/Summer construction period.  For more information, please contact Sue Martucci, 860-841-4287 or suemartucci@gmail.comsuemartucci@gmail.com>
 *   Fundraising volunteers needed to help plan, organize, and run our 2014 events. Contact Diane at 860-930-9048 or TreesMemorial@gmail.com<mailto:TreesMemorial@gmail.com>
 *   Media and Marketing enthusiasts are needed to help spread the word about this awesome project.  For more information please contact Diane DeLuzio860-930-9048 or TreesMemorial@gmail.com<mailto:TreesMemorial@gmail.com>

SAVE THE DATES
Trees of Honor Golf Classic sponsored by Grade A Home Improvement to benefit CTHM.  This golf outing will be held at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, CT.  Registration is currently underway for the golf tournament by contacting Derek or Andrew at Grade A Home Improvement at 860-874-4848.

OCTOBER 7, 2014 Statue unveiling and cocktail party.  More details to follow soon.

NOVEMBER 1, 2014 Patriot Dinner/Dance and Salute to Veterans with silent and live auctions. Three course meal, live music by 42nd Street Band, and much more.  Tickets are currently on sale for the event at www.cttreesofhonor.com<http://cttreesofhonor.us3.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=1d11a8cb20a7fb70fc016f096&id=86b114d803&e=79af724cbc> in the drop down menu for "EVENTS" click on "Buy Tickets." Reserved seating is limited to a Table of 8.  Tickets will not be sold at the door.

For more information on these events and ways that you can help, please conctact Diane DeLuzio 860-930-9048 or TreesMemorial@gmail.com<mailto:TreesMemorial@gmail.com>

Announcements

We are excited to announce some changes to the CTHM Executive Committee.  While we are sorry to see Rose Nolan step down from her Treasurer position, we are excited to welcome Cecile Fazio to the team.  Rose has been a wonderful addition to the committee and we will be forever grateful to her for the dedication and commitment to her duties as treasurer. I know that she will continue to support this wonderful project and be around for events at the park and at fundraisers.

Cecile Fazio is our new treasurer and she is no stranger to community service.  She comes to us with experience as the Chapter President of the Middlesex County Blue Star Mothers organization.  Cecile was instrumental in securing the Wreaths Across America honor for our 65 CTHM heroes with the display of wreaths at Middletown City Hall this past winter.  She will fill the role as Treasurer for CTHM effective immediately.

While our mail will be forwarded from our old post office box in Windsor, please note that CTHM has changed our mailing address to the following:

CTHM, Inc.
P.O. Box 86
Cromwell, CT 06416

Connecticut's Heroes

TSgt John Chapman

Cpl. Kemaphoom Chanawongse

GySgt. Phillip Jordan

SPC Wilfredo Perez Jr.

SSG Richard Eaton Jr.

SGT David Friedrich

PFC Anthony D'Agostino

SGM Phillip Albert

PFC Jeffrey Braun

CPT Eric Paliwoda

SGT Benjamin Gilman

SPC Tyanna Avery-Felder

SGT Felix Del Greco Jr.

DC3 Nathan Bruckenthal

PFC Melissa Hobart

SPC Jacob Martir

CWO William Brennan

Cpl. Kevin John Dempsey

SGT Joseph Nolan

LTC Michael McMahon

SSG Henry Irizarry

SPC Robert Hoyt

SSG Thomas Vitagliano

LCpl. Lawrence Philippon

LCpl. John Schmidt III

SPC Christopher Hoskins

MAJ Stephen Reich

Sgt. David Coullard

Capt. Brian Letendre

Cpl. Stephen Bixler

Cpl. Jordan Pierson

LCpl. Philip Johnson

PFC Nicholas Madaras

CPT Jason Hamill

SSG Joseph Phaneuf

SGT Richard Ford

PFC Stephen Richardson

PFC Orlando Gonzalez

1LT Keith Heidtman

SPC Andre Craig Jr.

SO1 (SEAL) Jason Lewis

SGT Jason Lantieri

Cpl. Christian Cotner

1Lt Thomas Brown

SFC Edward Kramer

SPC Dennis Pratt

CPT Benjamin Sklaver

Cpl. Xhacob Latorre

SSG Ronald Spino

LCpl. Tyler Griffin

SSG Edwin Rivera

SGT Steven DeLuzio

PFC Gebrah Noonan

SPC David Fahey Jr.

SFC Dae Han Park

SSG Frank E. Adamski III

Maj Raymond Estelle II

PFC Eric Soufrine

SOC (SEAL) Brian Bill

SGT Edward Frank II

SSG Ari Cullers

SPC Philip Schiller

CPT Andrew Pedersen-Keel

SSgt Todd J. Lobraico

Press Release: Middletown GOP & Community Events

Press Release from Middletown Republican Town Committee:

http://www.middletownctgop.com/