The Save Our Cemetery (SOC) Resolution empowers and educates advocates and organizations about the impending closure of the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown. By distributing this resolution, seeking its adoption, and publicizing support online, we can raise public awareness and collectively influence this critical issue.

GROUPS WHO HAVE FORMALLY ADOPTED THE RESOLUTION (24MAR2025 | 51 groups): 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, VFW 9460 Stratford, VFW 9544 West Suffield, VFW 2096 Madison, Old Lyme Veterans Senior Center, VFW AUX 8075 Prospect, VFW Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and VFW Auxiliary District 4, the Connecticut Bar Association (CBA), VFW 10688 Canterbury, VFW 7788 Milford, VFW 1467 Old Lyme, and the Middletown Council of Veterans.

SUPPORTING CONNECTICUT ORGANIZATIONS:
American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW); VFW Auxiliary; Disabled American Veterans (DAV); Marine Corps League (MCL); Catholic War Veterans (CWV); Army Air Force Roundtable of CT, and the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center (CVLC | https://ctveteranslegal.org/) have pledged support for the effort.

Save Our Cemetery (SOC) Resolution: Expand the Middletown State Veterans Cemetery (MSVC)

Whereas, the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown provides a dignified final resting place in Connecticut for our state’s eligible veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces; and

Whereas, the cemetery “will be out of space and out of capacity…by 2027,” to perform all three required burial types; and

Whereas, when the state veterans cemetery reaches capacity it will close, forcing eligible veterans to be interred out-of-state at Calverton National Cemetery on Long Island, NY; Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA; or Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam, MA; and 

Whereas, establishing a new veterans cemetery in Connecticut would require an estimated $15 million and considerable time for development, potentially leaving the state without an available veterans cemetery as Middletown reaches capacity; and 

Whereas, expanding the current Middletown State Veterans Cemetery (MSVC) through an annex, will continue to ensure eligible veterans and their families reasonable access to the centrally located, extensively developed, cost-effective, and exceptionally maintained State Veterans Cemetery, while sustaining Connecticut’s proud Civil War legacy of memorializing those who served and sacrificed for our great nation;

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Governor and Legislature of the State of Connecticut hereby authorizes the Department of Administrative Services and the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs to:

1. Acquire Additional Land: Identify and acquire additional land near the existing cemetery as an annex no later than Memorial Day 2026, ensuring readiness for interments before capacity is reached.
2. Develop Expansion Plan: Prepare a detailed plan for expansion, including the design, construction, and maintenance of additional burial sites, roads, landscaping, and infrastructure by Veterans Day 2026.
3. Secure Adequate Funding: Pursue funding from state and federal sources, leveraging grants and other available resources to finance the expansion project by Memorial Day 2027.
4. Engage Stakeholders: Collaborate with veteran organizations, local officials, and other stakeholders to align the project with the needs and preferences of the veteran, local, and state community. 
5. Implement Expansion Project: Ensure the timely execution of the expansion project, adhering to all relevant laws, regulations, and environmental standards by Memorial Day 2028.

Be It Further Resolved, that the Governor and Legislature of the State of Connecticut 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.