Community Corner

Windsor Group's Push to Honor Connecticut's Fallen Soldiers Continues at Bradley

A display honoring 64 fallen Connecticut servicemen and women works to raise awareness of and funding for an historic living-tree memorial to be constructed.

Just two years ago, a small group sat around a table at Windsor resident Ann Walsh's home to discuss establishing the first memorial dedicated to the 64 Connecticut men and women who have lost their lives while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Today, the effort has become a reality, and the group, now incorporated as CT Trees of Honor Memorial (CTHM) is just a few steps away from the construction of a living tree memorial in Middletown's Veteran's Park.

As a part of their mission, CTHM is looking to increase awareness and support for the project with a newly-constructed display at Bradley International Airport.

"We thought this would bring more awareness to people as they enter Connecticut and what is happening within Connecticut," Head of CTHM Project Development Nancy Rouselle said while assembling the Bradley display.

Among the many items in the display, which is located in terminal A between US Airways and American Airlines departure entrances, is a model of the planned memorial in Middletown, 64 gold stars adorned with pictures and names of each Connecticut serviceman and woman lost in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts and the military-issued clothing of Sgt. Steven DeLuzio, the son of CTHM Secretary Diane DeLuzio of Glastonbury.

"It's 64 men and women, but that's just a number. This [display] is actually bringing the faces, bringing the names to you, and letting you know these people are real," said Rouselle. "They were sons. They were brothers. They were uncles. They were dads. And they're gone. They were moms. We have women here, too. They won't see what's going on next. That's why we need to carry this on."

Phase I of the project — the establishment of a circular path lined with a tree representing the life of each fallen serviceman or woman — is set to be completed this year, according to Diane DeLuzio.

Phase II, which will include the erection of a statue will hopefully soon follow, but a great deal of funding will be needed.

The project is receiving no federal or state financial support and will need the support of state residents and corporations to make it a reality.

"We're looking for corporate sponsorships right now, and we're really taking every dollar we can get from residents," said DeLuzio, who added that the organization also welcomes volunteer help for many of its events, such as the April 20 pasta dinner scheduled to be held at the Southington Elks Lodge.

The group has fielded a number of designs for the statue and plans to have one chosen by July 1.

Regardless of when funding is secured and the monument erected, DeLuzio said the group will take all the time necessary to develop a memorial that honors the lives sacrificed.

"I know that I'm not going to live forever, so I know this memorial will be there forever. It will always be a constant reminder," she said.

"I talk about Steve as much as I can. I want him to not be forgotten, but after I'm gone, that (this memorial) will remind people that the freedom we have was at a price."

According to Rouselle, a residents can support the project in a number of ways, including the purchase of bricks to be included on the path.

Bricks in two sizes, 4"x8" and 8"x8", are available for $100 and $150, respectively. The bricks will be engraved with messages, including, but not limited to, messages in memory of a fallen loved one.

Information about how to purchase a brick or give another dollar amount (the purchase of a traditional military challenge coin is available as well) can be found on the group's website.

Regular updates are available on the organization's Facebook page.


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