As the calendar turns to 2026, Connecticut Veterans Bulletin pauses with deep reflection and unwavering respect to honor the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, their families, our Veterans, our Gold Star families, and the dedicated members of the CVB family itself.

A New Year is always a moment of hope. For the military community, it is also a moment of endurance, remembrance, and resolve. It is a time to acknowledge service that continues far from home, sacrifices that never truly end, and families who stand strong through every deployment, every transition, and every quiet moment of uncertainty.

Honoring Those Serving Today — Across Every Branch

To every Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, Coast Guardsman, Guardian, Reservist, and National Guard member, we offer profound gratitude.

Your service represents discipline, sacrifice, and devotion to something greater than self. Whether standing watch overseas, training for future missions, or protecting the homeland, your presence safeguards the freedoms Americans too often take for granted.

Connecticut remains deeply represented in this global mission. Hundreds of Connecticut National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are currently deployed or assigned away from home, serving in operational theaters and support roles around the world. Units such as the 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain) and elements of the 643rd Military Police Company, among others, continue to answer the call with professionalism and honor.

These men and women are not distant names on a roster — they are neighbors, coworkers, parents, sons, and daughters. Their absence is felt every day at kitchen tables, school events, and family milestones, and their service deserves recognition every day of the year.

As 2026 begins, we wish every deployed service member strength, safety, and a swift return home.

To Our Veterans — A Legacy That Endures

To Connecticut’s Veterans, past and present, your legacy remains the foundation upon which today’s service stands.

From The Revolutionary War to the Civil War to World War I to World War II to Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and countless missions in between and after, Veterans carried the weight of history forward. Their experiences shaped communities, families, and generations that followed.

Your service did not end when the uniform came off. It continued through leadership, mentorship, public service, and quiet example. Connecticut is stronger because of your courage, resilience, and commitment to duty.

This New Year honors you not as figures of the past, but as living pillars of our shared history.

Remembering the Fallen and Honoring Gold Star Families

As we look ahead, we also look back with reverence.

We remember the men and women who paid the ultimate price in service to the United States. Their sacrifice secured freedoms they would never personally enjoy, yet willingly defended.

We also honor their families — Gold Star families — who carry loss with grace, dignity, and strength that words can never fully capture. Their sacrifice did not end on a battlefield. It continues in empty chairs, unmarked milestones, and lives forever changed.

They are not forgotten. They are honored, respected, and held close by a grateful nation.

The Strength Behind the Uniform — Military Families

Behind every service member stands a family who serves alongside them.

Spouses who manage households alone. Children who learn resilience early. Parents who wait anxiously for safe returns. These families endure long separations, missed holidays, and constant uncertainty — all in quiet support of service.

Programs and efforts across Connecticut work year-round to support military families, especially during times when separation is hardest. These initiatives are not charity — they are recognition of sacrifice and shared responsibility.

To every Blue Star family, your strength matters. Your role is essential. Your sacrifices are seen.

Serving Those Who Have Earned It — The CVB Mission

At Connecticut Veterans Bulletin, our purpose is clear.

We do not serve the military and Veteran community as a favor.
We serve because they have earned our respect.

CVB exists to inform, honor, and connect Connecticut’s Veterans, service members, and families through accurate reporting, community calendars, memorial coverage, and recognition of service. We strive to be a reliable voice — one grounded in dignity, gratitude, and responsibility.

Every story told, every event shared, and every life honored reflects our commitment to those who stood in service of something greater than themselves.

A New Year’s Wish for 2026

As 2026 begins, we extend our sincere wishes to every member of the military community:

Safety for those serving near and far.
Peace for families holding the line at home.
Prosperity in health, opportunity, and purpose.
And unity rooted in shared respect for service and sacrifice.

May this New Year bring strength where it is needed most, comfort where it is long overdue, and hope worthy of the service given.

To all who serve, all who have served, and all who remember — Happy New Year from Connecticut Veterans Bulletin.