HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!
This Father’s Day, the Connecticut Veterans Bulletin pauses in deep respect to honor every father connected to the United States military—those who served, those still serving, and those whose legacies live on through the children they raised in the shadow of sacrifice.
We honor the fathers in uniform who shoulder the burdens of war while still embracing the quiet strength of fatherhood. Whether stationed overseas or stateside, these dads balance their duty to country with their devotion to family—often missing birthdays, milestones, and memories to protect our freedom. Their selflessness does not go unnoticed.
We honor the Blue Star fathers—those who hold their breath with every deployment, who beam with pride yet pray with every heartbeat for their child’s safety. These fathers offer unwavering support while navigating the unique challenges of having a son or daughter in harm’s way.
We honor the Gold Star fathers—whose strength in grief defines a level of courage few can comprehend. Their sons and daughters made the ultimate sacrifice for this nation, and these fathers carry the weight of that loss with solemn dignity. Today, we remember their children—and stand with these fathers in eternal gratitude.
We honor the veterans who came home and became fathers, passing on their resilience, leadership, and honor to new generations. Their stories—etched in history and echoed in their parenting—remind us that the strength of our nation is rooted not only in battlefield valor, but in fatherly love, guidance, and example.
We honor the single military fathers who raise their children with discipline and tenderness. We salute the stepfathers, foster dads, grandfathers, and mentors in the military community who fill a father’s shoes with commitment and heart. Every one of them helps shape the character of those who follow in their footsteps.
This Father’s Day, we do more than just say “thank you.” We remember. We honor. We uphold. Because behind every strong force is a stronger man—one who has kissed his children goodbye before a tour, or waited at a window for their return.
To all military fathers—past, present, and those remembered—we salute you.
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.