Event Honoring Bethel Veterans

HARTFORD –State Rep. David Scribner (R-Brookfield, Bethel) today hosted a ceremony honoring Bethel Veterans at Bethel Middle School. The ceremony bestowed the new state Veteran’s Wartime Service Medal on approximately 185 local Veterans.

Rep. Scribner worked with the Connecticut Department of Veteran’s Affairs to send correspondence to every Bethel veteran on record to explain the significance and eligibility for receipt of the medal. Recipients responded with completed applications and invited to today’s event, which was attended by approximately 350 people, including the veterans, their families and guests.

“The strong turnout for this event really made it something special for the Bethel community,” said Rep. Scribner. “I’m thankful for the efforts of everyone who helped make it such a success. We owe a tremendous debt to our local Veterans and the ceremony was a small but meaningful way to show appreciation.”

Rep. Scribner was assisted by State Senator David Cappiello, State Senator Judith Freedman, and Rep. Toni Boucher (State Sen.-Elect) along with Bethel First Selectman Bob Burke. The ceremony was led by Lt. Comm. Mark Dwinells and members of the Bethel Junior ROTC in presentation of colors and the pledge of allegiance to the flag. The audience was also led in patriotic song, including the National Anthem by members of the Bethel High School Chorus.

Presentation of the medals was made by Deputy Commissioner John Wiltse of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and area legislators. In addition, each medal recipient was presented an official citation from the Connecticut General Assembly. To be eligible for the honor, a veteran must have served in time of war, as defined in state statues, and who either was a resident of Connecticut at the time he or she was called to active duty for such service, or is domiciled in this state on the date of such award.

Rep. Scribner organized a similar presentation ceremony in Brookfield earlier this year for its veterans. He noted Connecticut has a rich history of honoring returning veterans from war, dating back to the Civil War when the state struck and issued its first veterans medal. State veterans medals were also issued to Connecticut citizens who returned from service in the Spanish American War, and World War I. After that, the tradition of presenting medals to returning state veterans fell off until it was restored in 2005 through the latest medal by act of the legislature. The new Veterans Wartime Service Medal is patterned closely after the medal issued following World War I, including its distinctive red, white, and blue. The medal contains the official seals of each branch of the U.S. Armed Services and the words “for service.”