LT. GOV.WYMAN, CMSR. SCHWARTZ ANNOUNCE TEN NEW INDUCTEES

INTO CONNECTICUT VETERANS HALL OF FAME

Dec. 2 Induction Ceremony Will Recognize Service to Community

Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman and Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Linda Schwartz today announced the ten men and women who will be inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame Class of 2011.

The Hall of Fame recognizes distinguished veterans who have made significant contributions to their communities after leaving military service.

Wyman and Schwartz will be joined by leader s of the state's veterans' community at the induction ceremony on Friday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m. in the Atrium of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Each inductee or family representative will receive a commemorative medallion recognizing their induction.

The 2011 Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame inductees are:

Madelon Baranoski: US Army Nurse Corps - Vietnam

Baranoski, of Meriden, served as the Chairman of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program and now serves as Assoc. Professor of Medicine at Yale Law School. Her research has been very instrumental in promoting understanding of the physiological reactions of stress on disease and behavior.

Samuel Beamon Sr.: US Marine Corps, Vietnam 1 ^st Marine Air Wing

Beamon, of Waterbury, is Past Commandant of the Dept. of CT Marine Corps League. He had a long and honored service with the Waterbury Police Dept., where he obtained the rank of Lieutenant. He is especially proud of his work with the Young Marines Program in Waterbury.

Rev. Dr. G. Kenneth Carpenter: US Navy, Vietnam

Carpenter, of Mystic, has been Pastor at Union Baptist Church in Mystic since 1982. He is Founder and former President of the Mystic Area Shelter and Hospitality (MASH) which provides services for families with children who are at risk of homelessness.

Ronald Catania: US Air Force, Vietnam

Catania, of Rocky Hill, serves with numerous charitable organizations and is a champion of the return-to-work program for veterans. A vice-president of Sage Allen and Bob's Stores, Catania serves on the Board of Directors of the CT Police Chiefs Assoc. After the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, he volunteered to take shoes and clothing to New York City for EMS, Fire and Police personnel.

John Chiarella: US Army, Korea/Vietnam

Chiarella, of Waterbury, is past Chairman of the Waterbury Veterans Memorial Committee. For more than 10 years he has developed and provided patriotic programs for Waterbury schools, such as the Forever Wave program that teaches students respect and proper etiquette for the American Flag.

Harold Farrington: US Army, Vietnam

Farrington, of Old Saybrook, has assisted numerous state veterans as a vocational rehabilitation and veteran's benefits counselor. He has been a voice for the men and women of Connecticut who have served in the military and has provided three decades of selfless services to improve the lives of all veterans in Connecticut.

Phillip Kraft: US Army, Vietnam

Kraft, of Darien, is the creator of the National Veterans Service Fund and served with Admiral Zumwalt on the Agent Orange Commission. For the past 10 years, he has been an instructor of veteran's benefits for the UAW annual conference. He has watched over the 1,500 veterans buried in the Spring Grove Cemetery in Darien and has worked with the community to greatly improve the quality of the grounds there.

Ronald Perry: US Marine Corps, Vietnam

Perry, of Meriden, is an active and avid supporter of veteran's causes and is best known for his planning and execution of Marine Corps birthday celebrations in Connecticut. He is a retired Sr. Account Executive of the Wellcare Management Group.

Richard Rampone: US Marine Corps, Vietnam

Rampone, of Kensington, is the State Commandant of the Marine Corps. League Dept. and is a contributor to countless local and state patriotic and military organizations. Rampone was a Patrolman for the Berlin Police Department.

Burke Ross: US Marine Corps, WWII

Ross, of Shelton, was a draftsman for 33 years at the Bullard Company working on machine design. He served for several years as Adjutant for the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) and is a leader in obtaining permission and issuing the stamp in honor of the MOPH. Ross is considered by many as the elder statesman of veteran's issues in Connecticut.

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Connecticut Department of Veterans' Affairs

www.ct.gov/ctva