08/24/2026
Nominations Being Accepted for the 2026 Class of the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame
Nominations Must Be Submitted by September 30, 2026
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is encouraging Connecticut residents to pay homage to distinguished veterans from the state who have continued making positive impacts in their communities after leaving military service by nominating them for induction into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.
Applications to nominate a veteran for the honor’s 2026 class are now being accepted and must be submitted to the Connecticut Veterans Affairs by September 30, 2026. Veterans who are selected for induction will be celebrated during a ceremony that will be held in the coming months.
“The Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame honors veterans from our state who have continued giving back to their communities even after leaving military service, and we want to honor and recognize them for their leadership, generosity, and contributions to Connecticut,” Governor Lamont said. “I strongly encourage anyone who knows a distinguished veteran who should be inducted in the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame to submit a nomination on their behalf.”
“The courage and commitment our veterans show during their service often continues long after they return home,” Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said. “From mentoring community members to leading local organizations, they make a lasting difference in every corner of our state. The Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame celebrates those who not only served our nation, but who continue to dedicate their lives to making Connecticut a stronger, better place for all.”
“This year we will again have the privilege to recognize the honorable military service and sacrifice that nominees have made to our great state and nation, in addition their resolute support to the military, veterans, and their families,” Connecticut Veterans Affairs Commissioner Ron Welch, retired U.S. Army brigadier general, said. “These exceptional heroes have tirelessly dedicated themselves to serving others and their communities at large. If you know a veteran deserving of this distinct honor, please complete a nomination package for the Class of 2026 Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.”
Established in 2005, the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame is the state’s official tribute recognizing former members of the United States Military from Connecticut who have continued making significant impacts on the lives of others and their communities after leaving military service. Veterans recognized for the honor are leaders in a variety of areas, such as education, public service, the arts, volunteer activities, and community and business leadership, to name a few. It is administered by the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs.
Each year, a nomination process is launched and a committee—consisting of the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, the adjutant general of the Connecticut National Guard, members of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs, and a group of veterans from the state—reviews the nominations and selects inductees to be honored in that year’s class.
To date, 227 honorees have been inducted, including five recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
To be eligible, nominees must have been born in Connecticut or resided in the state for a minimum of five years. They must also meet the definition of a “veteran” under Connecticut General Statutes § 27-103 and have received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces. The submitted nomination package must contain the completed nomination form, the veteran’s discharge documents, and a detailed narrative of the veteran’s community and/or public service at the local, state, and/or nation level and the veteran’s contributions to the community at large. The focus of this honor is on the veteran’s service to their community after leaving the military.
To download the nomination package, visit portal.ct.gov/dva/pages/ct-veterans-hall-of-fame.
Completed nomination packages must be submitted to the Veterans Affairs by September 30, 2026. They should be mailed through the U.S. Postal Service to:
Office of the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs
ATTN: CT Veterans Hall of Fame
287 West Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
Detailed instructions and information on eligibility criteria can be found within the nomination package.
