Middlesex Community College Veterans’ Club raised $1500 for a Memorial Tree for a CT Fallen Hero at the CT Trees of Honor Memorial

The MxCC Veterans’ Club, for the past three semesters, have been having Hot Dog Sale Fundraisers on campus to raise money so they could sponsor a Memorial Tree for one of the 64 men and women who were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting the war on terror. Hendrik Sorensen, vice president of the MxCC Veterans’ Club, personally knew Army Staff Sgt. Edwin Rivera from Waterford, who died on May 25, 2010 from wounds he received in Afghanistan. Sorensen said, “It means so much to me, to be able to sponsor a tree and to be able to honor and remember all who made the ultimate sacrifice. It was really heartwarming to see so many students, faculty, and staff caring about our fallen heroes”. The MxCC Veterans’ Club President, Vincent Marotta III said, “Veterans make unfathomable sacrifices so we can have the freedoms we have today. This is especially evident when they make the Ultimate Sacrifice to protect our homeland and the people we love. It is an honor and privilege for me to be involved in raising money for this beautiful living memorial that will honor and forever remember our 64 Connecticut men and women”. The Middlesex Community College Veterans’ Club would like to challenge all the Connecticut College Veteran Clubs to sponsor a tree or support the Connecticut Trees of Honor Memorial in any way, to help make this memorial a reality. The CT Trees of Honor Memorial, Inc., a Public Charity 501c3, will be built in Veterans’ Memorial Park, on Newfield Court in Middletown, CT. The memorial will honor and forever remember our 64 Connecticut men and women who served in the military, deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, and made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives. The memorial is for the entire state of Connecticut and will encompass a beautifully designed space that will include a tree planted with a personalized plaque next to it for each of our State's heroes who gave their life serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. The memorial will be funded and constructed with public donations and volunteer efforts. It will also feature walkways, flower gardens, benches, flagpoles, statues and lighting. It will be a serene, reflective area where families, friends, and visitors can be reminded of the valiant courage, bravery, and selflessness of our Connecticut men and women who served. A monument to honor all Connecticut veterans will also be a part of this memorial design. For more information go to www.cttreesofhonor.com and go to Ways You Can Help.