NEW HAVEN, CONN. (Dec. 19, 2024)—One of the newest American Legion posts in Connecticut is the first to adopt a resolution urging state lawmakers to save the state veterans cemetery in Middletown from closing.

The American Legion New Haven Post 210 adopted the “Expand the Middletown State Veterans Cemetery (MSVC)” resolution, calling for the governor and legislature to save the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery by expanding it before runs out of space and capacity by 2027. Post 210 Legionnaire and VFW Department of Connecticut Past-State Commander Mel Hewston (2011-2012) made the motion at the Legion post’s December 19, 2024 meeting.

The resolution urges the governor and the legislature to, “urge the Department of Administrative Services and the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs to prioritize this project and work diligently to ensure that all eligible veterans and their dependents continue to have access to a dignified and honorable burial site within our own great State of Connecticut.”

Written by the newly-formed Save Our Cemetery (SOC) group, the resolution was drafted in the wake of a Nov. 12, 2024 Middletown Common Council meeting. The Council rejected a motion 11-0 to allow the state the opportunity to purchase Middletown open space near the current Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery to create an annex. Without the expansion, the cemetery is expected to run out of space and out of capacity by 2027 according to the DVA.

Organizers of Save Our Cemetery (SOC) have created a website (CTVets.us), launched an email list, and drafted a resolution, which veteran service organizations can use as a template to edit and adopt—and use as a springboard to contact their elected representatives to advocate to save the state veterans cemetery. 

ABOUT SAVE OUR CEMETERY: Save Our Cemetery (SOC) is a growing grassroots campaign of Connecticut veterans, advocating for the expansion and salvation of the Middletown State Veterans Cemetery (MSVC). Learn more at CTVets.us.