Rell, Courtney honor reservists at Armed Forces Luncheon

A couple of heavy hitters visited Southington to honor the work done by the all-volunteer military at the Armed forces Day Luncheon at the Aqua Turf Club.

Governor M. Jodi Rell and U.S. Congressman Joseph Courtney both attended the luncheon. Courtney is from the second district and serves on the House Armed Services committee and the Seapower and Expeditionary Forces and Military Readiness subcommittee, was the guest speaker. He gave a rousing speech, which drew rabid applause from the military personnel in attendance.

"To me, today is all about remembering the price of freedom and liberty," Rell said before skipping off to the grand opening of the MGM at Foxwoods Resort and Casino. "Franklin D. Roosevelt once said that ‘freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.' And that is so true. Freedom is advancing in Iraq and Afghanistan, but it is being fought at every turn. You all have taken up that fight on our behalf. You and your families are making the daily sacrifices on our behalf. Our safety, our security and the high quality of life we love here depends on you. At every send off ceremony, and at every joyful homecoming, I shake your hands and talk to your families, and I keep repeating one thing: I tell you just how grateful I am, and this State is, and this Nation is, for your service. I tell you that we will never forget what you do for us. And I tell you that we know this is a debt of gratitude we can never fully pay back.

But there's one thing we can do in addition to thanking you in words, and that's by thanking you in the policies we enact at the State Capitol and the actions we take throughout the year."

Rell then gave examples of how she is working to help at the state level.

* Investing in the new $34 million Veteran's Home in Rocky Hill and in Camp Rell

* Protecting the Fighter Wing

* Expanding benefits for active duty soldiers and veterans

* Expanding the National Guard tuition waiver program at UConn and in the Connecticut State University (CSU) system to include graduate programs

* Adding bilingual staff to our Department of Veterans Affairs to assist vets and families members with benefits information.

* Changing the state's email policy to enable state employees to communicate with their immediate family members deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

* Extending the grace period from six months to one year after discharge for renewing professional credentials and professional licenses that become void while soldiers are on active duty.

* Gold Star Plates Fee Waiver

* Stand Down Events

* Operation E.L.F.

The luncheon was hosted by the Connecticut National Guard and honored reservists from all branches of the military for their service.

Awards were presented to: SKC (FMF) Joseph E. Bogdanski of the United States Navy Reserves, a Waterbury firefighter, Staff Sergeant Thompson of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, Charlie Company in Plainville, CSM William Chapman of the Army National Guard and Willington SSG John J. Doucette of the U.S. Army Reserves and Stratford, SMS Kevin F. Abbey of the Air National guard and Westfield, Mass. and Petty Officer Buckley of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves.

Courtney said there is no better time to honor the reservists.

"In this time we are living in there is no place I would rather be than honoring these men and women for their commitment," Courtney said. "We have an all volunteer military and without their service where would we be? If we don't honor them, we also won't have anyone joining.

"People talk all the time about idealism and there is no group of individuals that are more idealistic than the men and women of our military. It is inspiring for me to be here and when I go back to Washington and fight for them, I'll remember and see these faces."