On November 22, 1963, I was nine years old, and learned about it from a school crossing guard as we…read morewalked home from Public School 95 in the Bronx. I was the only kid in the group who knew that our Vice President's name was Lyndon Johnson. But he wasn't our Vice President any more. As we approach the 50th anniversary of that terrible day, I want to remember the wit and charm and charisma of JFK. When he was running for President, he made a campaign stop in Waterbury on November 6, 1960. A crowd of over 40,000 packed the Waterbury Green at 3:00 AM to welcome him to Waterbury. He was elected President two days later. In 1962, Kennedy returned to Waterbury. This marker commemorates those historic days when the President visited. A JFK quote from that second visit (there was no third visit although it was promised) is inscribed on the plaque: "I must say, having been here at three o'clock in the morning and now at six-thirty in the evening, that Waterbury is either the easiest city in the United States to get a crowd in, or it has the best democrats in the United States. In any case, our meeting here two years ago at three in the morning was the high point of the 1960 campaign, and we will meet at three o'clock in the morning the last week of the 1964 campaign and see what's going to happen then." The second inscription reads: This plaque is presented to the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial Library By the townspeople of Wolcott, Connecticut, In gratitude to the only president in history to honor the Waterbury area by his continued promises to return His pledge was fulfilled in the fall of 1964 by the late president's brother Robert F. Kennedy Who has accepted this plaque on the anniversary of that promise. We hope that his library and the examples set therein, Will serve as an "Eternal Flame" By which future generations of Americans will be guided Presentation made at The Kennedy Memorial Library Ball State Armory, Waterbury, Conn. The plaque is not in the best of shape and is rather faded. It's located at the base of an exterior wall at the Hotel Elton building, and is very easy to miss, which is a real shame.

This site is Most sacred to USA history. In October 1962 President Kennedy made an early morning…read morespeech from the balacony here. After his speech,he said ,that he " would be back" after reelection in November 1964, We All know what happened ,on November 22,1963. I am a well known portrayer of past US Presidents,in Living History and TV. I hope to reenact this moment in time in the near future,2022?

East Hartford Community Cultural Center - They get some great community events organized. Music…read moreevents are the best!

May 27, 2024, Happy Memorial Day. Honoring the fallen with a moment of silence and then a review of…read morea beautiful soldiers' monument located in Central Park in New Britain, CT. This 44 feet limestone tomb was dedicated in September 1900. There are various steles nearby, commemorating soldiers that served various wars. This memorial is dedicated to the soldiers in New Britain who served in the Civil War. The monument was intricately designed by an architect; it has a bronze crown and inscriptions throughout. The bronze crown is known as the winged victory; a statue of a winged female with her arms stretched like she's flying. It's a very beautiful obelisk, the best i've seen. The marble has names of soldiers and those who were involved with the creation/dedication of this monument engraved on it. The words engraved on there were very meaningful, sentimental, solemn; it touched my soul: "oh rare and royal / was the sacrifice with malice toward / none with charity / for all with firm / ness in the right / lincoln this monument is built in grateful remembrance of the soldiers and sailors who in the war to maintain the union offered their lives in the cause of mankind that coming generations taught by their example may cherish the fruits of their valor and devotion and make their memory immortal for you and me they / put their armor on let us have peace / grant for you and me they / stood in grim array liberty and union / now and forever / one inseparable / webster mdccclxi - mdccclxverected by thecitizens of new britainmdcccxcix they joined the mortal / struggle and went down to heroes living / and dear martyrs / dead / lowell" Thank you to all the veterans who sacrificed, served, and protected our country; in the past, in the present, and in the future.

This ornate monument was built in 1900, and for something that's been around for nearly twelve…read moredecades it is definitely showing signs of its age. Nevertheless, this is a glorious work of art. It honors soldiers from New Britain that served in the Civil War. It's a huge monument, over 50 feet tall and topped by a gold statue of "Winged Victory". There are inscriptions and sculpted panels everywhere you look -a globe, a wreath, torches, tablets. lion heads, and four stone columns that list sixty-four Civil War battles. The monument is showing evidence of streaked staining and some of the inscriptions are a little hard to read. Here are some of the many inscriptions: With Malice Toward None With Charity For All With Firmness In The Right (Lincoln) Oh Rare And Royal Was The Sacrifice Let Us Have Peace (Grant) For You And Me They Put Their Armor On This Monument Is Built In Grateful Remembrance Of The Soldiers And Sailors Who In The War To Maintain The Union Offered Their Lives In The Cause Of Mankind That Coming Generations Taught By Their Example May Cherish The Fruits Of Their Valor And Devotion And Make Their Memory Immortal For You And Me They Stood In Grim Array To Heroes Living And Dear Martyrs Dead They Joined The Mortal Struggle And Went Down MDCCCLXI - MDCCCLXV Erected By The Citizens Of New Britain MDCCCXCIX

He was a Polish count…read more He fought for Polish freedom from Russia He joined the Continental Army and became a friend of George Washington. He fought for American freedom from England He was an American patriot. He is known as "the father of the American cavalry". He was fatally wounded fighting for American independence in Savannah, GA on October 11, 1779. He was awarded honorary United States citizenship, and that has happened to only seven people. That is the amazing story of General Casimir Pulaski. This 12 foot high bronze statue honoring a hero of the Revolutionary war was funded by the Polish-American community of Hartford. It's a spectacular statue of Pulaski on a charging horse, holding the reigns in his left hand and a curved sword in his right hand. The statue was commissioned in 1973 and dedicated on July 3, 1976 for the Bicentennial. The statue rests on a pedestal Inscribed with the name: PULASKI On the front of the pedestal is a bronze plaque with the inscription: "I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it..." * General Casimir Pulaski * was born in Poland in 1748. he led the unsuccessful revolt of Polish Patriots against Russia. Upon arrival in America he joined General George Washington's Army. Having distinguished himself in the battle of Brandywine, Congress appointed him a Brigadier General. He organized the independent Corps of Calvary and Infantry, known as The Pulaski Legion. General Casimir Pulaski was wounded on October 9, 1779 at the siege of Savannah and died on October 11, 1779. The back of the pedestal has more inscriptions: "..I Have Passed Hither From Europe To Do Myself The Honor Of Being Among Worthy Citizens In The Defence Of Their Country And Their Liberty." Count Casimir Pulaski Who Offered His Life For Our Freedom. On This Bicentennial Of American Independence A Grateful People Commemorate His Enduring Contribution July 4 1976

This monument was sculpted by Granville W. Carter,NA, NFSS. He was a resident of Baldwin, LI. The…read morestatue was unveiled on July 4, 1976.

I was blessed to be able to attend the governor's residence annual holiday tour today that was…read moreavailable to the public to view the beautiful display of Christmas decorations inside the home of the governor's mansion. The last I was in the mansion is when governor Rowland was our governor. Its been renovated a few times since then. They have volunteers that contribute their time with the decorating and they start it over months ago to get it all decorated in time for this event which they do every year. They had tours available for you to give you the history of the mansion. I learned the mansion has 19 rooms and 9 fireplaces that the State of CT bought back in the year of 1943. It is definitely a beautiful time of the year to visit the governor's home. We also had the opportunity to see Santa Claus to take photos with. They were taking donations and you could buy ornaments that were displayed on the Xmas tree form$25 each. If you weren't able to go this year make sure you attend it next year.

Just ten years after the Civil War ended, this solemn 16' tall granite monument was dedicated in…read moreSept 1875 to those from Colchester who lost their lives in the American Civil War. It's a wonderful likeness of an austere looking Union soldier wearing a long unbuttoned overcoat and cape. He holds his hat in his hand and is looking down as though he is in deep thought. Look at the amazing detail on the statue - the soldier's sad eyes and flowing beard and mustache, his rifle, bayonet, and cartridge box, the "U.S" on his belt, the folds of cloth on his cape, and the cavalry bugle on the top of his hat. There are a lot of engravings on every side of the monument. You can see a slogan reading "NOT OURS BUT / THE NATION'S". You'll see emblems of the Shield of the United States, a field of stars, and the Connecticut Seal. You'll see a "Roll of Honor" with 44 names. The main engravings read: COLCHESTER HONORS ITS DEAD WHO FELL IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION, 1861 - 5. ERECTED / SEPT. 17, / 1875.

The Civil War ended on May 9, 1865…read more By the time the decade of the 1860's had ended, ten Civil War monuments had already been built across the United States. Six of them can be found in Connecticut. The very first one, built in 1863 (as the war still raged on) is in Kensington, CT, and I reviewed that about two and a half years ago. https://www.yelp.com/biz/americas-first-civil-war-monument-berlin Today I visited one of our state's other historically significant monument in East Hartford's Center Cemetery. It was built in 1868. You can easily walk to it, using the Cemetery entrance on Main Street. It's more or less 100 yards in, but easily visible as soon as you walk into the cemetery grounds. Look for the 25 foot tall brownstone obelisk topped by an eagle with a stack of cannonballs and a cannon near the base. The monument lists and honors the 23 men of East Hartford that died in the war, including this significant listing: Samuel W. Francis, Col'd. Co. C. 30. Reg. C.V. Died at City Point Hospital, Oct. 27, 1863. Aged 30. Francis was a member of a "Colored Company" and his inclusion shows how the monument's designers wanted to acknowledge and recognize African American involvement in the Union Army. You'll also see the CT Shield, the US Shield, and worn images of a sword, flag, rifle, and a backpack engraved onto the monument. Some of the engravings read: THE UNION IT MUST AND SHALL BE PRESERVED ALL HONOR TO THE BRAVE WE MOURN THE PATRIOT DEAD ERECTED BY VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTION TO THE MEMORY OF THE BRAVE MEN WHO GAVE UP THEIR LIVES THAT THE REPUBLIC MIGHT LIVE. You can also see the names of the battles - COLD HARBOR / ANDERSONVILLE, KINGSTON / SHARPSBURG, PETERSBURG / DRURYS BLUFF, ANTIETAM / PORT HUDSON It's an odd place for this marker and cemetery, right behind busy Main Street.

This impressive monument to Manchester's Civil War veterans stands as a guardian to downtown, at…read morethe high profile intersection of Route 6 (Center Street) and Route 83 (Main Street). Dedicated in 1877, it depicts an 8' high bronze statue of a Union soldier standing on a granite base. The clean-shaven youngish looking soldier wears a cape, a long coat and a cap. He is holding the barrel of the rifle in both hands while the rifle's butt rests on the ground. On the front of the base are the Connecticut state seal and a shield with a US flag. An inscription reads: IN MEMORY OF THE SOLDIERS OF MANCHESTER, WHO DIED IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. 1861 - 1865. DEDICATED SEPTEMBER 17, 1877 A small plaque in front of the monument reads: SOLDIERS MONUMENT Dedicated September 17, 1877 Re-dedicated June 4, 2005 In honor of those who served in the Civil War of America 1861 - 1865 The monument is in excellent condition in a nice little town green decorated by floral arrangements.