Groundbreaking At Cucia Park

Dignitaries from the municipal, state, and federal government, and from the Army, gathered Friday morning to throw the symbolic shovelful of dirt as ground was officially broken for the Army Reserve Training Center in Middletown's Cucia Park.

"I don't think the Department of Defense is ever going to be the same after dealing with Middletown," said Mayor Sebastian Giuliano in his remarks at the event, referring to the difficult task of finding the right spot in town for the facility.

In fact, each of the speakers made note of the arduous journey which began when the Army decided it wanted to build its training center in Maromas until a group of dedicated residents fought that choice, along with the Army's second choice, Boardman Lane on the East Side of town in the Westfield section.

"It was never a question as to whether the Army was welcome in town," Giuliano said.

Giuliano made it a point to recognize local citizens who took part in the task of selecting Cucia Park as the site.

Connecticut Representative Rosa Delauro announced that the new facility would be named for Maurice Rose, a Middletown native and the highest ranking Jewish member of the Army at the time he served. Rose was killed in Germany at the end of World War II.

Delauro also recognized the efforts of Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and State Senator Paul Doyle, who were not seated on the main platform, but were far more instrumental in moving the Army to Cucia Park than were Senator Joe Lieberman and Governor Jodi Rell, who were invited to speak.

"I'm very glad that deliberating together for a very long time we were able to select an appropriate site," Delauro said.

Mayor Giuliano said that the final check for the site of $1.9 million was delivered to the city Friday.

The ribbon cutting for the Army Reserve Training Center is planned for 2011.