Veterans Memorial Garden Dedicated at Middlesex Community College

Today Middlesex Community College officially dedicated its Veterans Memorial Garden, built in part with a $5,000 Home Depot Community Impact Grant. Middletown Mayor Dan Drew (pictured, right), Connecticut Veterans Affairs Commissioner Sean Connolly, and members from many veteran services organizations joined the MxCC community for the ceremony.

 The garden, which was created and constructed by students in the MxCC Veterans Club, includes a memorial seating area, an engraved monument, and military stepping-stones for each branch of service. An abundance of plantings makes the area peaceful, attractive, welcoming, and sustainable. Its prominent location along the main entrance walkway leading to Chapman Hall is the most visible location on campus to students, staff, and community visitors.

The ceremony opened with the National Anthem performed by student Jessica Grote. Warm remarks were made by Peter Galgano, veterans outreach coordinator at MxCC, MxCC President Dr. Anna Wasescha, Middletown Mayor Dan Drew, Veterans Affair Commissioner Sean Connolly (pictured, right), and Heather Sandler on behalf of Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

MxCC has been recognized as a Military Friendly School, which honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.  Currently, around 125 veterans attend Middlesex Community College.