Today we celebrate the birthday of Staff Sergeant Joseph Arthur Heneghan—a beloved World War II veteran, dedicated husband, and proud father of ten whose legacy continues to inspire his large and loving family.
Born on May 2, 1921, in Trumbull, Connecticut, Joseph lived a life defined by service, strength, and steadfast devotion. During World War II, he served with honor in the European theater, embodying the courage and sacrifice of the Greatest Generation. His commitment to his fellow veterans never wavered, remaining active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars long after the war ended.
After returning home, Joseph built a remarkable career as a large crane operator and a proud member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 478. His skill and reliability earned the respect of colleagues and contributed to countless projects across Connecticut.
On April 19, 1952, he married Ann Marie Sullivan, beginning a beautiful journey that led to a vibrant family of ten children: Joseph Jr., Kathleen, Thomas, Michael, Marguerite, Kevin, Joanne, Maureen, Timothy, and Mary. As “Poppy” to 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, his gentle wisdom and enduring love left a lasting mark on each generation.
Joseph passed away on November 25, 2009, at the age of 88. He was laid to rest with military honors at Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown—a fitting resting place for a man whose life was rooted in honor and service.
Today, his memory lives on through his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and his surviving sisters, Mary Smith and Bertha Kiernan. As we remember Joseph on his birthday, we honor a man whose legacy is woven into the fabric of his family and the history of his country.
I am not a veteran. I am a member of the Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary. But in 1991, personal loss brought me to a place I never left.
Over two decades later, that loss led me to the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown, Connecticut, where I took on the coordination of Wreaths Across America — which grew into the largest and fastest growing veterans program in the state. I didn’t do it for recognition. I did it for them.
In 2016 I founded the Connecticut Veterans Bulletin. Not because I served, but because I believe those who did deserve to be honored, connected, and kept alive.
Twenty-two veterans die by suicide every day. I knew about that number before it became a hashtag. I knew it personally, long before anyone was talking about it.
This publication exists because that number is unacceptable. Because every veteran in Connecticut deserves to know someone gives a damn.
That someone is me.
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