In 2001, I became involved in a project at the Captain Nathan Hale Middle School in Coventry, CT. The students researched the 612 men not only to identify them, but to learn more about each of them. The end result was a book titled “612” a listing and biography of every Connecticut man that lost his life in the Vietnam War. Although the “612” book was a wonderful tribute to these men, I decided it should not be their final memory and a memorial should be created to honor them, to thank them and to welcome them home.

In July 2006, I formed a Committee called the Connecticut Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee to raise money to establish a memorial for the 612 Connecticut men. While there had been a lot of support for a memorial over the decades, most proposals failed to take hold.

I started in earnest to contact various attorneys, accountants and Coventry Town officials to determine the best way to proceed.  At a Town Council meeting I presented my thoughts, plans, and desires for a memorial. The Town Council gave their full support for the project and voted unanimously to provide a site for the memorial.  The Town Manager then researched town lands and provided a list of possible choices.  The final decision was made on March 13, 2007 to place Connecticut Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Veteran’s Memorial Green in Coventry.

Donation letters were sent to various Veterans’ Organizations, businesses in Coventry and the general public, including those that had lost someone dear in Vietnam.  The support was overwhelming not only from those in Connecticut, but from other states as well.  Fund Raisers; including a motorcycle run, dinners given by The American Legion Riders and the West Shore Middle School in Milford helped to raise enough funds to put a down payment on the memorial.  As the year 2007 closed the site for the memorial was being prepared.

The ground breaking ceremony in August of 2007 was attended by many and the support continued to grow.  It is hoped that this memorial will make the Veteran’s, Coventry and the State of Connecticut proud and remind future generations of their sacrifices.  Jean Risley and the entire committee would like to once again thank everyone for their support and to welcome home our Vietnam Veterans.

Jean Risley is the Chair of the Connecticut Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee