Details of the arrival of the “Connecticut Fallen Star Memorial” are being finalized for an October arrival and November dedication on the Goodwin College campus in East Hartford. The impressive installation will honor the more than 30,000 Connecticut men and women who have given their lives in military service.
Thursday, October 24, is the projected delivery date of the Fallen Star in East Hartford. A motorcade of veterans is expected to meet the vehicle bearing the components of the sculpture at the Connecticut border and accompany it to the Pent Road site. While unconfirmed at present, plans are also being considered for a series of motorcades to cover the entire span from the point of origin in Maryland all the way to Connecticut. Details will be shared as traffic routes determined and safety concerns are addressed.
The creation of sculptor Will Hemsley features a star more than 20 feet tall and partially imbedded in the earth, with surrounding bronze figures of a man, woman, and child representing Connecticut Gold Star families. The cost of the physical structure, installation, and a fund for perpetual care is $300K, about half of which has been raised to date by a volunteer, non-profit committee of veterans, government officials, business representatives, Gold Star families, educators, and others.
The dedication ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 9, beginning at 1 p.m. Craig Jordan, Veterans Coordinators for Student Affairs at Goodwin, will serve as master of ceremonies.
“While Goodwin is honored to be the host site for this incredible tribute, the Fallen Star is really the result of the hard work and grassroots efforts of Connecticut’s citizens,” he said. “Their tireless efforts to secure the funds to make sure that Connecticut’s servicemen and women are not forgotten are truly inspiring.”
Expected guests include sculptor Will Helmsley, Congressman John Larson, Connecticut Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Thomas Saadi, and Goodwin President Mark Scheinberg. Speakers include Paul Bucha, 1970 Medal of Honor recipient, who will deliver the keynote, and Connecticut Gold Star Mother Helen Keiser-Pedersen.
A reception is scheduled to follow at the College. There is no cost to attend the event and the public and members of the media are welcome.
More details will be released closer to the event. Questions on the dedication and ways to financially support the memorial may be directed to Rich McCarty, 860-727-6904 or rmccarty@goodwin.edu.
Check out these local stories on the arrival of the Fallen Star:
Hartford Courant
https://www.wtnh.com/top-news/connecticut-fallen-star-memorial-now-under-construction-in-east-hartford/
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.