[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 61 (Thursday, April 26, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2811-S2812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 2011 CONNECTICUT VETERANS HALL OF FAME

  Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 2011 
inductees of the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame, a nonprofit 
organization that honors men and women from Connecticut who have served 
their communities in commendable ways since retiring from the military. 
Starting in 2005, when established by Executive Order, the Connecticut 
Veterans Hall of Fame has selected at least 10 inductees each year: men 
and women from Connecticut who, even after their great sacrifices as 
Active members of our military, have chosen to continue their service 
in innovative ways to contribute to the lives of current enlistees, 
fellow veterans, and civilians.
  These local heroes were celebrated at an induction ceremony 
surrounded by their family and friends this past December attended by 
Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman and the Connecticut Department of 
Veterans Affairs Commissioner Linda Schwartz. I would like to join 
Lieutenant Governor Wyman and Commissioner Schwartz and formally 
recognize Samuel Beamon, Sr., Rev. Dr. G. Kenneth Carpenter, Richard 
Rampone, Ronald Catania, Burke Ross, John Chiarella, Phillip Kraft, 
Ronald Perry, Dr. Madelon Baranoski, and Harold Farrington, Jr.

[[Page S2812]]

  Several of these 2011 inductees are well-loved for touching their 
communities through a wide range of public leadership initiatives. 
Samuel Beamon, Sr., Rev. Dr. G. Kenneth Carpenter, and Richard Rampone 
served in Vietnam in the U.S. Marine Corps. Samuel Beamon, Sr. was 
honored for his exceptional work with the Young Marines Program in 
Waterbury, CT and as past commandant of the Department of Connecticut 
Marine Corps League, as well as his esteemed legacy as lieutenant of 
the Waterbury Police Department. Rev. Dr. G. Kenneth Carpenter has been 
recognized as a constant source of spiritual guidance as pastor of the 
Union Baptist Church in Mystic; in addition, he is founder and 
president of the Mystic Area Shelter and Hospitality, MASH, which gives 
temporary shelter and counseling to families--especially those with 
children--who are struggling in this tough economy. Richard Rampone, 
who worked to protect his community as Patrolman for the Berlin Police 
Department, is the State commandant of the Marine Corps League 
Department of Connecticut, whose mission is to assist marines entering 
civilian life.
  Many of our honorees participate in more than one organization, 
dedicating a vast amount of time to helping servicemembers and 
veterans. Ronald Catania, who served in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam, 
has given countless hours to numerous groups, including the Connecticut 
Police Chiefs Association, Connecticut Veterans Memorial, Connecticut 
National Guard during the Hurricane Katrina disaster, the American Red 
Cross, and the Special Olympics. On September 11, he worked the day 
after the attacks to transport donated goods to Ground Zero for 
emergency responders. Burke Ross, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps 
during World War II, has been a fervent supporter and participant of 
the Military Order of the Purple Heart, MOPH, volunteers at the West 
Haven VA Medical Facility, and for the past 25 years has planned the 
annual Memorial Day Services and Parade in the Derby-Shelton area; in 
2001, he was selected as the Disabled American Veteran, DAV, of the 
Year for his more than 30 years as an officer and then chaplain to his 
local DAV chapter.
  The civic dedication of a number of these inductees spans decades. 
John Chiarella, who served in the U.S. Army in Korea and Vietnam, has 
spent 10 years ensuring that Waterbury-area students have an education 
in our patriotic traditions, including developing a program called 
Forever Wave, whose mission is to instruct on the flag salute. He is 
also is known for his role as chairman of the Waterbury Veterans 
Memorial Committee. U.S. Army veteran Phillip Kraft has been a voice 
for veterans' benefits as an instructor at the International Union, 
United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of 
America, UAW, annual conference. Also, for many years, Mr. Kraft has 
watched over burial services and maintained the upkeep of the Spring 
Grove Cemetery in Darian, where approximately 1,500 veterans have been 
laid to rest, and also takes the lead as CEO of the National Veterans 
Services Fund. Honoree Ronald Perry, who served in the U.S. Marine 
Corps in Vietnam, has been a solid support system for the Meriden, CT, 
Marine community, speaking out on behalf of several veterans 
associations, including the Marine Corps League of Meriden, and 
arranging the birthday celebrations of Meriden-area Marine Corps 
veterans.
  The remaining two Connecticut veterans honored in 2011, Dr. Madelon 
Baranoski and Harold Farrington, have used the skills and experiences 
they developed in a professional capacity to positively affect the 
military and veterans communities of Connecticut. After serving in 
Vietnam in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, Dr. Baranoski has compiled 
research on the physiological consequences of stress to foster greater 
understanding about the mental conditions of veterans in our 
communities and to help reform the criminal justice system. She is 
currently an associate professor of psychiatry and the vice chair of 
the Human Investigation Committee at Yale University School of 
Medicine. Harold Farrington, Jr., has spent 30 years helping veterans 
and their families navigate the bureaucracy and reap the benefits of 
government programs as an employee of the U.S. Department of Veterans 
Affairs. In an article for New London's The Day, Mr. Farrington 
candidly captured the emotions he felt as a 2011 Connecticut Veterans 
Hall of Fame Inductee: Having dedicated his life to service, he 
acknowledged that ``to know my work is being recognized is very 
rewarding.''
  I hope this honor from the State of Connecticut will start to reflect 
and manifest the pride felt by the family, friends, and fellow veterans 
of these inductees. It gives me great pride to laud these courageous 
and selfless individuals who have not hesitated to serve and sacrifice 
in and out of uniform. To them, I say with gratitude: Today, your 
country publicly recognizes your contributions and deep, heartfelt 
commitment to our U.S. veterans.

                          ____________________