Bulletin 24 – 11  (01 June 2024 Edition)

 

                 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

IN MEMORY

THIS HEADQUARTERS REGRETFULLY ANNOUNCES

THE DEATH OF

Stanley Wozniak

Father of MSG (Ret.) Sherry A. Wozniak

Former member of

The Connecticut Army National Guard

Stanley Wozniak, 93 of Stonington, CT passed into eternal life Friday, May 17, 2024 at Westerly Hospital, RI, surrounded by his three daughters. He was born on December 26, 1930, in Norwich, CT to Joseph Wozniak and Agnes (Mehalic) Wozniak. His parents each immigrated from Poland and made their home in Central Village, CT where Stanley and his three brothers grew up.

Stanley enlisted in the U.S. Army in New London, CT shortly after turning 18 years old and attended basic training at Fort Dix, NJ. He served in the 7th Division 31st Infantry Regiment as a tank driver in the Korean War at the Chosin Reservoir. Stanley was honorably discharged after serving from 1949 – 1952 reaching the rank of Sergeant, receiving the Army Occupation Medal Japan, United Nations Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, and Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart. Following his military service, Stanley later became a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Jewett City Post 10004.

Interment

Date: Friday, May 31, 2024, 3:00 p.m.

Place: St. John’s Cemetery

808 Norwich Road, Plainfield, CT, 06374

Celebration of Life

Date: Immediately following Interment

Place: William L. Mercier VFW Post 5446

7 Windsor Avenue, Plainfield, CT, 06374

Obituary: Obituary information for Stanley Wozniak (doughertybrosfuneralhome.com)

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to

VFW Post 5446 Auxiliary

Either mailed c/o Treasurer, 234 Cemetery Road, Plainfield, CT 06374

or accepted at the VFW the day of the service.

Black Border – Father of MSG (Ret.) Sheery A. Wozniak DOWNLOAD HERE

 

 

     

 

 

 

Memorial Day 2024 Edition, gone but never forgotten. We hold each one of them dearly in our hearts, and we have not forgotten their sacrifices.

This past weekend, we celebrated such an important holiday. On Memorial Day, we celebrate the gift of those brave men and women who gave everything in the service of our country. We hold parades, have parties, and show our gratitude for those amazing souls willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. However it’s good to remind each other that this isn’t just a party day. Take time this weekend to remember the Connecticut Guardsmen and women who gave their lives in the service of our country.

 

 

SPC Cindy M. Beaudoin:

Born on July 20, 1971, the daughter of Paul & Phyllis Beaudoin. Her dad was a Veteran of the Vietnam War and a member of the Connecticut National Guard.

In 1989, Cindy Graduated from Plainfield High School, Plainfield, Connecticut. Shortly afterward she followed in her dad’s footsteps and joined the 142nd Medical Co., Connecticut National Guard.

In 1990 the unit was activated for Desert Storm and shortly thereafter left for Saudi Arabia. The 142nd’s journey had taken it north from Saudi Arabia into Iraq and then east to just across the border into Kuwait.

There, at about 3:00 P.M. on February 28, an explosion rocked the 142nd’s convoy. At the sound of the explosion, Cindy dove out of her truck and took up a position in the sand with her M16. At that point there was a second explosion where Cindy was laying in the sand, mortally wounding her.

John McCrae 1872-1918

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

    That mark our place; and in the sky

    The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

    Loved and were loved, and now we lie

        In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

    The torch; be yours to hold it high.

   If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

        In Flanders fields.

 

 

     

    

SGT Felix Delgreco

GT Felix Delgreco of Simsbury, a member of C Company,102nd Infantry in Bristol, was killed April 9, 2004 while on patrol in Baghdad, when his vehicle struck an improvised bomb and was attacked with small arms. He was the first member of the Connecticut
Army National Guard to die in Iraq. He was 22 years old.

A member of Simsbury High’s Class of 1999, Delgreco played trumpet in the jazz band. He worked as part of the backstage technical crew on school plays and other performances.

He also was an Eagle Scout.

“He was proud of that achievement,” he said. “I was happy to be there because he was such a great kid and he was well-liked by his classmates. He always had a smile on his face all the time.”

“He was one of those kids you just wanted to bring home and adopt,” said Bergouhi Spencer, Delgreco’s high school Latin teacher of four years.

Spencer remembers Delgreco as a boy with a keen curiosity and a joy to have in class. She took her Latin class to Europe every year and Delgreco was along for four of them. She gave her students Latin nicknames, but Delgreco came ready-made with a moniker.

“Felix means lucky or happy in Latin and we used to kid him about that,” she said. “I can just see him sitting there.”

Spencer said he could also still see him basking on the steps of a Florence cathedral, blending in with his trademark European beret-style cap, which he wore on all the trips abroad.

“He was just a part of the fabric, sitting there in the sun,” Spencer said.

Delgreco would often come back and visit his former teacher, once proudly wearing his uniform, she recalled. She learned of his death Saturday night.

And in the sky the larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below
We are the Dead. Short days ago.

 

 

     

 

    

SPC Robert Hoyt

member of the C Company, 102nd Infantry Battalion from Bristol , was killed Dec. 11, 2004 when his armored vehicle struck a bomb in Baghdad . He was a graduate of E.O Smith High School in Storrs and has family in the Ashford area. He was 21 years old.

Robert William Hoyt, 21, a beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, friend, warrior, combat veteran and Hero, died Saturday, (December 11, 2004) in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV while conducting convoy operations. Hoyt was assigned to the Army National Guard’s C Company, 1st Battalion 102nd Infantry, Bristol.

Robert Hoyt was born in Manchester to Kathleen and Thomas D. Hoyt, Sr. He grew up in Mansfield, was a 2001 graduate of Edwin O. Smith High School and enlisted in the Connecticut National Guard in 2002. Hoyt had a love for sports and music. He played football and ran track in high school. He also coached football for the Mansfield youth league. He was an employee of Wing Foot Commercial Tire.

Soldiering is an affair of the heart, and it is that spirit, that fundamental commitment to volunteer, to place the Nation’s needs above one’s own, that makes Robert Hoyt one of the best Soldiers in the world today. Robert Hoyt was a great Soldier, who voluntarily answered the call to duty. He was a true hero. He was predeceased by his grandmother, Etta Zwick and his grandfather, Ross Russell. Survivors include mother, Kathleen Hoyt of Storrs, father, Thomas Hoyt of Ashford; his brother, Thomas Hoyt, Jr.; two sisters, Ginger and Amber Hoyt; grandmothers, Clara Russell and Nancy Cunningham; grandfathers, Samuel Zwick and Paul Cunningham; 26 aunts and uncles; many cousins and countless friends.

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.

 

 

     

 

        

SSG Joseph E Phaneuf II

SSG Joseph E Phaneuf II, 38, of Kozey Road died Friday, 15 Dec 2006 in Afghanistan.

He was the loving husband of Michele Kozey Phaneuf for eleven years. Born in Putnam, he was the son of Peter Phaneuf of Dayville, and Barbara Ortega Phaneuf of Killingly.

Staff Sgt. Phaneuf joined the Headquarters Company of the First Battalion 102nd Infantry Brigade in New Haven in November of 2005. He was also deployed to Iraq in February of 2004 with the Connecticut Guard’s 118th Medical Battalion. Prior to his service in Afghanistan, he worked as a field operating technician for T-Mobil for five years. Joseph was a member of the Eastford Volunteer Fire Department and also coached basketball, T- ball and baseball. He enjoyed photography and golf and was an avid Michigan Wolverine fan.

Besides his wife and his parents, he is survived by three beloved children, Ryan Phaneuf, Danielle Phaneuf and Jordan Phaneuf, all at home; three brothers, Dennis Phaneuf of Medford, Ma., Tony Phaneuf of Killingly, and Rob Phaneuf of East Putnam; three sisters, Tiffany Gion of Killingly, Holly Grube of Eastford, and Veronica Mobley of Montville; father and mother in- law, Greg and Teddy (LaBarre) Kozey of Eastford; a sister-in law, Sharon Kozey of Eastford and 13 nieces and nephews.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high.

 

 

 

     

 

    

SSG Edwin Rivera:

SSG Edwin Rivera died 25 May 10 from injuries received from indirect fire on May 20th in Laghman Province, Afghanistan.
He was serving in the 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment. It was one of two Connecticut National Guard units deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq late last year.

Governor Jodi Rell has ordered that flags around the state be flown at half-staff until his interment.
“As we pause over the coming days to remember, honor, encourage and celebrate the contributions and sacrifices of men and women who have served our nation in uniform, I ask that every Connecticut citizen keep Staff Sergeant Rivera, the Rivera family and their friends in their thoughts and prayers,” the Governor said in a written statement.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

 

 

     

 

         

SGT Steven J. DeLuzio 25, of South Glastonbury, Conn.; assigned to 172nd Infantry Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Jericho, Vt.; died Aug. 22 in the Jalil District of Paktya province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire.

Also killed was Army Sgt. Tristan H. Southworth.

 

 

     

 

 

Play taps in their honor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Xrlf3taEo

 

The long version played by 13 year old Melissa Venema with Andre Rieu: “<http://www.flixxy.com/trumpet-solo-melissa- venema.htm>

“SAD IS AN NATION WHO HAS NO HEROES –
PITIFUL IS AN NATION WHO HAS HEROES BUT FORGETS THEM”
John F Kennedy

DOWNLOAD MEMORIAL DAY REMEMBERANCE PDF HERE:

Memorial Day Rememberance

 

     

 

Top News Stories:

 

New Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans

New Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans – Connecticut Senate Democrats

There are many things that the Connecticut General Assembly has done over the years to honor our military veterans, from tuition waivers at state universities to holding on to your job in state or local government if you’re deployed. Now, as of a few weeks ago, you can add one more benefit: no more property tax payments for fully disabled veterans.

On May 7, the state Senate gave final and unanimous approval to a new state law that creates a new property tax exemption for veterans who have a permanent and total disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

 

     

Connecticut Dedicates more than $120 Million to Improving School Air Quality

Connecticut Dedicates more than $120 Million to Improving School Air Quality – Connecticut Senate Democrats

About $122 million in state support will fund heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades at public schools across Connecticut under a series of grants announced Monday by the Department of Administrative Services.

 

 

     

 

 

Housing Discrimination Highlights How AI Could Worsen Housing Issues – Connecticut Senate Democrats

Housing Discrimination Highlights How AI Could Worsen Housing Issues

A report from CT Insider, published May 18, dove deep into housing discrimination, with its findings including that half of open federal housing discrimination investigations in Connecticut are 100 days or older, which violates federal law, and that state housing vouchers are limited in their accessibility across communities. These restrictions harm members of the public in their ability to move to different locations.

 

 

     

 

 

Windsor Breaks Ground on Wilson Park Using State Community Investment Funds – Connecticut Senate Democrats

Windsor Breaks Ground on Wilson Park Using State Community Investment Funds

Windsor broke ground Tuesday on a long-planned community project to develop a park on a vacant land parcel in the Wilson neighborhood using a Community Investment Fund grant to cover most of the costs.

The park will be developed on a 5.68-acre parcel located on Windsor Avenue using a $4 million state grant and $355,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding. When completed, the property will include a playground, sprawling lawn, and a pavilion.

 

 

     

 

 

 

CONNECTICUT VETERANS BULLETIN – Page 2 – Information by Connecticut Veterans for Connecticut Veterans. (ctvetsbulletin.org)

v1-cvbs-weekly-connecticut-veterans-calendar-publication-saturday-16-march-2024-1.pdf (menlosecurity.com)

 

Behavioral Health Resources:

Connecticut National Guard > Resources > Behavioral Health (ng.mil)

In crisis? Need help? Call 1 (800) 273-8255 and press 1

Contact a Connecticut National Guard Specialist

Ms. Susan Tobenkin, LCSW Behavioral Health Specialist (860) 830-8991 susan.e.tobenkin.civ@army.mil	Mr. Michael Dutko, LPC Licensed Professional Counselor (860) 946-9810 michael.t.dutko.civ@army.mil	Mr. Peter Doria, LCSW Behavioral Health Specialist (860) 655-0296 peter.e.doria.civ@army.mil

I am a Retiree/Veteran:

Check out these resources

America the Beautiful Passes

 

Armed Forces Recreation Centers/Hotels & Resorts

 

 

American Forces Travel Program

 

 

   

 

 

 

Survivor Benefits Newsletter and Link

DFAS Survivor SBP Newsletter Fall2023

Download entire newsletter HERE:

 

 

   

 

 

DFAS Retiree Newsletter & Benefits News + Link

Still most recent edition

Download entire newsletter HERE: DFAS Retiree Newsletter December 2023  – Still most recent edition

 

 

   

 

Free tax return preparation for Veterans, military members, and their families!

Free tax return preparation for Veterans, military members and their families – VA News

 

 

 

   

 

 

Connecticut Guardian

 

** Gov. Ned Lamont announced a new initiative to encourage state residents to join the Connecticut National Guard.

 

 

DOWNLOAD JEEP FLYER HERE:  JEEP Flyer

 

The Connecticut Military Department’s Joint Enlistment Enhancement Program (CT JEEP 500). Each CTNG Guard Member (except for those members (and their relatives) who are assigned/attached to the 6^th Recruiting and Retention Battalion), CTNG Retiree and CT Militia Member is eligible to become a Recruiting Assistant (RA). An RA who enrolls a lead in CT JEEP 500 will receive an allowance of $1,000 for each lead who enlists in the CTNG. Leads enlisting into a priority vacancy received additional $500.

 

     

 

 

Army Echoes Now Available

Current edition: https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Documents/echoes/latest.pdf

Army Echoes is the Army’s official newsletter for Retired Soldiers and surviving spouses. This month’s featured articles include:

• The Army Chief of Staff Retired Soldier Council’s historic meeting
• Survivor Benefit Plan Open Season Update
• The VA disability rating and its full arsenal of benefits
• Gray Area Retired Soldier and ready for retired pay?
• Managing your retired pay allotments
• Use your military benefits for a great vacation
• Take advantage of your FEDVIP enrollment period

To contact the Army Echoes editor, send an email to ArmyEchoes@army.mil.

 

   

 

US Military Recreation Facilities (Excerpted from the “Stephanie at Poppin’ Smoke” newsletter) If you want a fun vacation that won’t break the bank, don’t forget that you can use your benefits to stay in military recreational lodging. Here are 17 ideas to get you started with your planning.

 

   

 

2024 Calendar of Events

 

   

 

 

The National Guard Association of CT State Sponsored Life Insurance (SSLI)

• Up to $1,000,000 coverage available*
• Members covered in combat
• Covered 24/365
• Most valid claims paid within 24 to 48 hours of receipt of proof of loss
• All military occupations covered
• Spouse and Children coverage available
• Coverage does not end and rates DO NOT go up just because you separate from the National Guard
• SSLI can be payroll deducted from drill check or AGR payroll
• All SSLI group plans cover members while serving in the Connecticut National Guard including deployment

For coverage details including eligibility, benefits, rates, exclusions, limitations and renewal provisions please contact the plan administrator tollfree at 800-633-8333.

National Guard Association of Connecticut State Sponsored Life Insurance is provided under group life insurance policies issued to the Militia Insurance Trust (MIT). The

Guardian group life policy and the Uniformed Services Benefit Association (USBA) 10, 15 and 20 year level term life policies are underwritten by New York Life Insurance Company.

DOWNLOAD FLYER HERE: SSLI FLYER

 

 

   

 

Honor Flight Connecticut

 

                 

A Hub of the National Honor Flight Network

Honor Flight CT recognizes American veterans for their sacrifices and achievements by flying them to Washington, DC to see THEIR memorials at no cost. Current priority is chronological by conflict (WWII, Korea and Vietnam) with special consideration given to terminally ill veterans from all wars. Guardians fly with the veterans on every flight providing assistance and helping veterans have a safe, memorable and rewarding experience.

Please note: Veterans are only eligible once for the Honor Flight experience.

Your information MUST be exactly as it appears on your ID For Airline Travel (License, Passport, Govt ID):

DOWNLOAD THE HONOR FLIGHT APPLICATION HERE:Honor Flight – HFCT Vet App

Please submit this form to:

Honor Flight Connecticut

c/o Amy Casey

26 Copperstone Lane

Madison, CT 06443