Feb. 18, 2025 SOC Newsletter

SUBJECT: Save Our Cemetery (SOC): Updates

🇺🇸 Connecticut veterans advocating for the expansion and salvation of the Middletown State Veterans Cemetery (MSVC).

Dear <<First Name>>

In the last 10 days, there has been a blizzard of developments with the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery:

The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services has posted a request for proposals for land for a NEW state veterans cemetery (search “DVA – RFP 25-01”).
Governor Ned Lamont has released his FY 2026/2027 budget, allocating only half the $15 million needed to establish a new state veterans cemetery.
The subject mater public hearing was held on for Feb. 13, 2025 on the Proposed H.B. No. 5117, “AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND A CONNECTICUT VETERANS CEMETERY.”
Testimony for HB 5117 can be found on the Connecticut General Assembly website, overwhelming in support and informative testimony.
Cassandra Day of the Middletown Press published an article about the campaign and the cemetery issue.
Connecticut Veterans Legal Center Attorney Chelsea Donaldson’s editorial “Let’s make sure our veterans can rest in peace” was published in the Connecticut Mirror, echoing the goals of the Save Our Cemetery (SOC) campaign.

The Save Our Cemetery (SOC) campaign is elated there is concrete movement toward preserving a State Veterans Cemetery in Connecticut; however, it is disheartened the centrally-located and well-developed state veteran cemetery located in Middletown will most likely not be expanded, eventually be closed, and with time–largely forgotten about. Plus, a brand new cemetery costs millions of dollars more than an annex to an existing one.

Still, these developments constitute steps in the right direction.

RESOLUTION

Adopting the Save Our Cemetery (SOC) resolution is increasingly important so we can address ongoing issues (such as increasing new cemetery funding in the governor’s budget). Please continue to urge your veterans group to “adopt the Save Our Cemetery (SOC) resolution” and email cpickett@vfwnewhaven.org letting me know.

GROUPS WHO HAVE FORMALLY ADOPTED THE RESOLUTION (18FEB2025 | 32 posts): VFW 7666 Guilford, VFW 12106 Branford, VFW 149 Danbury, VFW 149 AUX Danbury, MCL DET 40 Glastonbury, VFW 2046 Manchester, VFW 6851 Canaan, VFW 3336 Moodus, VFW 583 Middletown, VFW 12150 New Haven, AL 210 New Haven, VFW 591 Wallingford, VFW 5849 Niantic, VFW 9243 Lakeville, VFW 7330 Oakville, AL 195 Oakville-Watertown, VFW 10321 Hamden, VFW 10059 Trumbull, AL 141 Trumbull, VFW 6123 Windsor Locks, VFW 1672 New Milford, VFW 2083 East Hartford, AL 017 Naugatuck, VFW 10732 Berlin, VFW 594 Norwich, VFW 9452 Preston, VFW 4608 Ledyard, VFW 5446 Plainfield, Killingworth Veterans, VFW 10052 Cheshire, VFW 201 Waterbury, VFW 603 Norwalk, VFW AUX 201 Waterbury, VFW 1523 Putnam, and VFW Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.

ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT Thank you to the leaders of these veterans groups who have voiced support for the Save Our Cemetery (SOC) campaign and resolution: American Legion Department of Connecticut, Department Commander John DeBisschop Army Air Force Roundtable of Connecticut, Cheshire Catholic War Veterans & Auxiliary of the United States of America, Department of Connecticut Commander Thomas M. Voytek Connecticut Veterans Legal Center (https://ctveteranslegal.org/) Disabled American Veterans Department of Connecticut, Department Commander Kevin Sanders Marine Corps League Department of Connecticut, Commandant Richard Daigle Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Department of Connecticut, Department 2024-2025 Commander Stanley W. Borusiewicz Jr Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Auxiliary Department of Connecticut 2024-2025 President Kathrine Fleischauer VFW Connecticut Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. Yours in service, Charlie Pickett Save Our Cemetery (SOC)

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VISION & MESSAGING

An annex to the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery is an opportunity for the City of Middletown to continue to honor our eligible veterans with our state’s largest memorial, and to offer our departed sons and daughters–united in service to our great nation–a final and lasting resting place, here in Connecticut.