LT. GOV.WYMAN, CMSR. SCHWARTZ ANNOUNCE TWELVE NEW INDUCTEES

INTO CONNECTICUT VETERANS HALL OF FAME

(HARTFORD, CT ) Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman and Dept. of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Linda Schwartz today announced the 12 members of the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame Class of 2012 that will be inducted later this month.

The Hall of Fame recognizes distinguished veterans who have made significant contributions to their communities after leaving military service. Wyman and Schwartz will be joined by the honorees and leaders of the state's veterans' community at the induction ceremony on Nov. 28 at 4:30 p.m. in the Atrium of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

The 2012 Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame inductees are:

• Reverend Thomas E. Berberich: US Army, Vietnam/Brigadier General Chaplain

Berberich, of Kent, served as the Catholic Chaplin for the CT State Firefighters for 40 years and was Chaplain at the CT Veterans Home at Rocky Hill for 24 years. He has been Assistant Pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Washington, CT since 1959 and has served on the: Archdiocese Senate of Priests; Board of Incorporators of Friendship House in New Britain; Commission for Justice and Peace on the Priests' Retirement Board; the Board of Directors of the CT Catholic Conference and as Exec. Director of the Archdiocesan Office of Due Process.

Berberich was recalled to active duty in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, serving as Area Command Chaplin for the CT Army National Reserve. He was awarded the Bronze Star three times for courage and bravery during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam.

• Manuel Michael Cardoza, Jr.: US Army, Korea/ Corporal Medical Tech.

Cardoza, of Preston, has been actively involved in veterans' organizations for more than 55 years, including as Past Commander of Preston VFW 9452 and American Legion Post 4. He is a member of the Marching Color Guard; past President of CT Sickle Cell/New London Chapter Disease Research Foundation and the Backus Hospital Board of Directors. Using his knowledge of medical processing acquired in the U.S. Army, he has held multi-phasic health screening days through the state Dept. of Public Health throughout New London County and beyond.

• Paul Francis Dillon: US Navy, Vietnam/ Master Chief Radioman

Dillon, of Gales Ferry, has dedicated his entire life to serving his country and our veterans and active duty troops and their families. His commitment to veterans led to his volunteer work at the Retired Activities Office on the Navy Submarine Base in Groton. Dillon's legacy of service now extends to his two sons, who have followed his footsteps and are serving in the U.S. Marine Corps as Career Officers.

• Peter Galgano, Jr.: US Marine Corps, Vietnam/Sgt. E-5

Galgano, of Bristol/East Berlin, has extensive involvement with the Marine Corps League's Military Funeral Honors Detail and Wake Service, including the creation of a DVD that was given to 300 funeral directors in Connecticut. He is well known as a Web Sergeant and Public Relations Officer, and recently compiled a memorial video for many of the Gold Star families of Connecticut troops lost in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Galgano works tirelessly with state agencies and military support groups in order to provide counseling and guidance to all servicemen and women.

• William George Godburn: US Army, WWII/ Corporal

Godburn, of Meriden, became a member of the Meriden Fire Dept. in 1954, holding the positions of Fire Marshal and head of the Bureau of Fire Prevention for 22 years. He also helped to start the Meriden YMCA Men's Club and has served as the president of the Tri-Town Golden "K" Kiwanis Club. He also has served on the School Building Committee, Public Utilities Committee, and the Board of Directors of the Kuhn Center and the Conservation Commission.

• Norman Hanenbaum: US Marine Corps, WWII / Corporal

Hanenbaum, of Farmington, West Hartford and Haddam, is a member of Silver City Detachment, Dept. of CT Marine Corps League, and of the Jewish War Veterans of CT. He was one of 15 founders of the Connecticut Special Olympics in 1968 and remains involved in the organization. Hanenbaum has served as the musical director, driver and benefactor of the Alleluia Players, a special needs group of young people who have performed at various World Special Olympics Games in Canada and the U.S., as well as the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington, D.C.

• Alan Jepson: US Navy, WWII / Seaman Second Class

Jepson is a longtime public servant who has held the posts of Mayor, Town/City Clerk and Registrar of Vital Statistics in his hometown of Milford. He is also a former State Auditor of Public Accounts and the Former Deputy Director of Dept. of Community Development in Milford. A U.S. Navy Veteran of WWII, Jepson served in the Pacific Theatre aboard Destroyer USS Collett.

• Charles Richard Morrissey, Sr.: US Army, Vietnam/2 ^nd Lieutenant

Morrissey, of North Haven, served as a 1st and 2 ^nd Lieutenant in the Army while stationed in Ohio, then joined U.S. Army active reserve in New Haven. He was promoted to Captain and was active until 1976, when he returned to New Haven and took a position as a public elementary school teacher, which he held until 2001. He then joined the state Military Dept. 2 ^nd Company Governor's Foot Guard in 1995 as a private, and retired in 2007 as a Major.

Morrissey is also a member of the American Legion.

• Herbert Thomas Schacht: US Army, WWII/ PFC-Tec 5

Schacht, of Quaker Hill, left the Army in 1946 after serving three years as a Medical/Surgical Tech and has spent his life serving the children at the Waterford Country School, a treatment center for emotionally disturbed and multi-handicapped children. His other volunteer work as a SCORE counselor extended to an AIDS project in Africa and an adoption service in Guatemala.

• Thomas Patrick Sheridan, Esq. (Deceased): US Army, Vietnam/ SP5 Intel Analyst

Sheridan, formerly of East Hartford and Glastonbury, entered the Army in 1968 and discharged 1971 as an Intel Analyst and with a Bronze Star. He earned his earned Juris Doctor 1978 and was a partner of Dwyer and Sheridan law firm in Glastonbury. Sheridan was well known in the State Capitol as Clerk of the House of Representatives from 1981-1984 and as Clerk of the Senate from 1987 to 2011.

• James H. Throwe: US Army, Korea /Sergeant Major

Throwe, of South Windsor, has for more than 60 years dedicated himself to supporting both the military and civilian communities, in and out of uniform. An attorney, he was Mayor of South Windsor and past President and member of the South Windsor Rotary Club. He is an active member of the South Windsor Patriotic Commission and for the last 10 years has been volunteer co-manager of the Officers Club of Connecticut.

• Carmine Vaccaro: US Navy, Korea/Hospital Corpsman

Vaccaro, of Stamford, has erved his community as a volunteer at Holy Spirit Church for over 45 years. He is very active in the Knights of Columbus and American Legion, and volunteers for Food Bank, New Covenant House of Hospitality, Toys for Tots, ARI Walk for Independence and many more charitable organizations.