Military Matters: Submarine USS Mississippi is commissioned

The Navy commissioned the newest Virginia-class attack submarine, the USS Mississippi, June 2 in Pascagoula, Miss.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus gave the principal address. Allison Stiller, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for ship programs and the ship's sponsor, gave the order to "man our ship and bring her to life!"

Mississippi (SSN 782) is the ninth ship of the Virginia class. It was built under a teaming agreement by Electric Boat in Groton and Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia.

Capt. John McGrath, the submarine's commanding officer, said the submarine force is smaller than it used to be.

"I think we would all like to see more submarines in the fleet and we're happy to add this one to the mix," he said.

NAUTILUS CHAPTER
TO HOLD LUNCHEON

Groton - The Naval Submarine League Nautilus Chapter will host a luncheon on June 8 featuring Cmdr. Mike Chin, who has just completed a tour as executive officer of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.

The luncheon will be held at the U.S. Submarine Veterans Club, 40 School St., 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The cost is $15 per person. Make checks payable to Nautilus Chapter Naval Submarine League. RSVP to Tom Olson at (860) 245-0333 or tfolson@comcast.net.

Attendees can pay at the door. Walk-ins are welcome.

SUBMARINE VETS GROTON ANNOUNCE EVENT SCHEDULE

Groton - U.S. Submarine Veterans Groton Base has planned several upcoming events.

Regular brunches are served on the remaining Sundays of the month.

Subvets will hold the monthly membership meeting for all members and those interested in joining the organization June 4 at 6:30 p.m.

The World War II chapter will have its monthly social and lunch June 12, 11:30 a.m., at the clubhouse, 40 School St.

The Holland Club will hold its monthly luncheon June 19, 11:30 a.m., at the clubhouse. Lt. Cmdr. Robert Sawyer, officer in charge of Historic Ship Nautilus, is the guest for this luncheon.

Events are only open to members of U.S. Subvets and their guests.

For more information, contact Groton Base Commander John Carcioppolo at (860) 514-7064 or email commander@subvetsgroton.org.

BRANCH 20 EVENTS FOR JUNE LISTED

Groton - Branch 20, Fleet Reserve Association Inc. has several events planned.

The Board of Directors will hold its regular monthly meeting on June 5, 6 p.m., at the Branch Home, 242 Thames St.

Branch and Unit 20 will hold their regular monthly meetings June 21 at the Branch Home. Unit 20 will meet at 6 p.m. and Branch 20 will meet at 7 p.m. Installation of officers and Branch Board of Directors elected at the May meetings for both Unit 20 and Branch 20 will be conducted.

For the Branch, Rick Aiken was re-elected president; Herb Horne was re-elected vice president; Brandon Jordan was elected secretary; and Francis "Bud" Walters was re-elected treasurer. John "Sully" Sullivan, George Hyland, Joyce Harris, Larry "Doc" Hurlbutt and Brian Turley were re-elected to the Board of Directors. Eric Murphy was elected to the board. For the Unit, Abbie Cravens was elected president; Matt Lemoine was elected vice president; Dee Carcioppolo was elected secretary and Kelly Sullivan was re-elected treasurer.

Branch and Unit 20 will be involved in the town's July 4th Parade and Club 20 will hold its annual Fireworks Picnic on July 7. Volunteers are needed for both events. Sign-up sheets are posted in the club.

Tickets are available for the Fireworks Picnic and advanced payment is required.

The July Board of Directors meeting will be held on July 3 at the Branch Home at 6 p.m.

For more information about these events, call the Branch Home at (860) 445-0731.

VFW POST 189 PLANS DINNER DANCE

New London - The Veterans of Foreign Wars Murphy-Rathbun Post 189 has several upcoming events.

Bingo is held every Tuesday at the post, 110 Garfield Ave., at 7 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.

The monthly pasta night will be on June 13, 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults and $6 for seniors ages 55 and older. Take-out is available.

The Building Fund dinner dance will be June 16 at the post, 6 p.m. to midnight. Post members should let ticket sellers know their attendance plans.

The post is open Tuesday and Thursday, 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 3 to 9 p.m. The Post meeting is June 18, 7:30 p.m., the House Committee meeting is June 27 at 7 p.m., Ladies Auxiliary meeting is June 13 at 2:30 p.m. and the Men's Auxiliary meeting is on June 13 at 7 p.m.

All meetings are held at the post home. The post is looking for new members.

Call the post home for information about membership and events at (860) 447-9059 or visit the post's Facebook page.

TWO FROM AREA COMPLETE TRAINING

Two people with local ties have graduated from military training.

Army Pfc. Michael T. Hartmann graduated from the Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operator Advanced Individual Training course at Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla. Hartmann is the son of Julie and Chris Garcia of Groton.

Kalen M. Larsen, daughter of Ken Larsen and Kathleen Katamura, of North Stonington, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy on May 26.

Larsen graduated from the Williams School in 2008. At West Point, she studied kinesiology and environmental engineering. She was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in the Medical Branch and will begin her medical studies at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in August.

VETERANS HALL OF FAME
NOMINATIONS SOUGHT

The state is seeking nominations for the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.

The hall recognizes distinguished veterans who have made significant contributions to their communities after leaving military service. The deadline for submitting a nomination for the Class of 2012 is Sept. 3.

Ten Connecticut veterans are inducted each year based on application reviews and recommendations from an executive committee and final selection by the lieutenant governor. Seventy-two current and former citizens of Connecticut have been inducted to date into the Veterans Hall of Fame, including five recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

"The Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame has honored many fine men and women who wore the uniform and kept on serving. Their accomplishments have enriched our state in countless ways. We hope that individuals will see this opportunity to honor a veteran that they know," Department of Veterans' Affairs Commissioner Linda Schwartz said.

Nominees must have been born in Connecticut or lived here for at least five years, meet the definition of a veteran under the Connecticut General Statutes and received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces.

For more information, including a nominating packet, visit www.ct.gov/ctva. Nomination packets are also available by calling the Connecticut Department of Veterans' Affairs at (860) 616-3603.

Nominations must not exceed five pages and must be sent to the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs ATTN: Veterans Hall of Fame, 287 West St., Rocky Hill, CT 06067.

Nominations received after Sept. 3 will be considered for the following year's class.

FLAGS TO BE RETIRED AT NORWICH CEREMONY JUNE 14

Norwich - The Norwich Area Veterans Council announced there will be representatives from veteran service and health care groups available during the Flag Day event at Howard T. Brown Park.

Representatives from the Norwich Veterans Center, Southeastern Mental Health Authorities Forensic-Vets Program and other veteran service officers are scheduled to attend. The Post 9/11 Memorial Committee will provide information on the memorial.

The Flag Day events begin at 5:30 p.m. on June 14 and end with a flag retirement at 8:30 p.m. It is the kickoff to the city's Freedom Weekend and casting of the nation's first Emancipation Proclamation Bell.

Boy Scout Troop 80 of Taftville and Boy Scout Troop 4 of Norwich will do a presentation on flag etiquette. National Sojourners Chapter 58 and naval re-enactors will also perform. The night will end with a presentation by the Three Rivers Young Marines and the retirement of about a dozen flags. Uncle D's Blazin' BBQ will be on site.

Anyone with a flag with a significant history they would like to see retired at the event should contact Dennis Baptiste at (860) 908-2104.