News and Events
Periodically check this page for the latest Stratford Veterans Museum news and happenings. Also be sure to visit (and like and share) our Facebook page. 
Events
- View the November 13, 2021 grand opening on YouTube.
News
Veterans Inducted Into Hall of Fame Fourteen veterans -- including the Stratford Veterans Museum's own Bill O'Brien -- were recently inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame. WATCH
Veterans Day 2024 Veterans from the Stratford Veterans Museum and around the town participated in Veterans Day 2024 related activities including the annual Stratford Veterans Parade and recognition ceremonies at schools around the town include Bunnell and Stratford high schools and Johnson Middle School. PHOTOS
Annual Pumpkin Festival Volunteers from the Stratford Veterans Museum were on hand at the Annual Pumpkin Festival to tell people about the museum, collect information from veterans, cook hot dogs and raise fund for the museum. PHOTOS
Quilts of Valor Korean War veteran John Lindberg and Vietnam veteran Joe Koripsky received Quilts of Valor from Jane Dougherty at the Mayor’s Veterans Breakfast.
Stratford Day Volunteers from the Stratford Veterans Museum staffed a booth at the 2024 Stratford Main Street Festival event on Main Street (known in previous years as Stratford Day) and shared information about the museum while collecting (via donations and sales of items) $853 to support the facility and also numerous veteran registration forms. PHOTOS
Student Field Trips to the Museum The Stratford Veterans Museum has hosted numerous successful field trips from local schools and groups during the past school year. HERE are some of the knowledgeable volunteers who were on hand to guide students from Wilcoxson Elementary Schools through the museum's hands on activities and exhibits.
4th Grader Finds Inspiration at Museum Second Hill Lane 4th grader Finn built a beautiful diorama of the battle of Lexington and Concord during the American Revolution as part of the school's curriculum on the War of Independence. Finn (who was inspired to build his diorama after seeing some of the dioramas currently on display at the Stratford Veterans Museum) is shown standing (with his mom) next to his creation. Congratulations to Finn on a job well done. Learn MORE about his diorama. To see more of the dioramas at the Stratford Veterans Museum, please visit the Our Collection page of our website.
A Medal Of Service Following the First World War, the town of Stratford presented its returning citizens who served in the Armed Forces with a commemorative medal (Front, Back). This sample of the "Stratford medal" was donated to the Stratford Veterans Museum by Frank Kecko. The medal had been presented to his father, Sgt. Frank E. Kecko, who served with Headquarters Company, 26th Infantry Division and received a Silver Star.
VFW 9460 Donation VFW 9460 Auxiliary members Mary Bango, and Gary & Michelle Brennan present a $200 donation to Bob Mastroni for the Stratford Veterans Museum.
Letters From D-Day. June 6, 2024 marked the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy Troops were given a copy of the letter (VIEW) from General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the leader of the Allied forces. The another letter is from President Franklin D. Roosevelt (VIEW) was also distributed to the troops. .Both these letters were copied from the original hard copies saved by Sergeant Edward Mudre, a Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient who served in Europe during WWII. They were shared with the museum by his daughter, Gail Voytek, who serves as the secretary on the museum's board of directors.
Veterans Day School Visits In celebration of Veterans Day 2023, volunteers from the Stratford Veterans Museum attended and spoke at assemblies at several schools in the Stratford School District. PICTURES
First Annual Stratford Veterans Parade and Veterans Day Services Members of the Stratford Veterans Museum participated in the 2023 (first annual) Stratford Veterans Parade and Veterans Day Services at Academy Hill. PICTURES
BHS Veterans Day Celebration Stratford Veterans Museum members were among the guests and presenters at the Annual Bunnell High School Veterans Day celebration. PICTURES
PumpkinFest 2023 The Stratford Veterans Museum was well represented at the 2023 PumpkinFest at Boothe Memorial Park. Check out our PICTURES.
Bunnell Football Players Score Volunteer Touchdown! Six Bunnell High School football players, along with their coach Pat Conlogue, recently toured the Stratford Veterans Museum and helped out with moving some items out of the attic and other jobs while there. The players were: Captain Patrick Susezk, Captain Tommy Debernardo, Captain Brian Gonzalez, senior Billy Neuygen, senior Luke Ryan, and sophomore Trent Raffalee. Thanks to these great players for their help. SEE PICTURES
Celebrating a Friend On Sept. 28, supporters of the Stratford Veterans Museum gathered at the museum for a thank you celebration for Patrick Leonard, who was resposible for planning, soliciting donations of materials and building the facility's patio. For more on the good work done by Mr. Leonard please see our Monthly Contributor's Column opposite this story. PHOTOS
Veterans Museum Mural Dedicated On Flag Day, June 14, 2023, Mayor Laura Hoydick and the leadership of the Stratford Veterans Museum dedicated a mural painted by a group of creative and thoughtful art students at Bunnell High School who made it so the walls behind the museum now have an incredible mural depicting the history of Stratford and its veterans. PHOTOS
Harding High School Students Visit Museum Students from Harding High visited the Stratford Veterans Museum to tour the museum's three floors of displays, including trying out the flight simulator, the virtual reality Oculus experience, and the full size WWI trench section. Take a look here at some visit PHOTOS.
2023 Stratford Veterans Breakfast Veterans from throughout Stratford (including board members and volunteers from the Stratford Veterans Museum) participated in the town's annual veternan's breakfast at Vazzy's Four Seasons. PHOTOS
Remember and Honor Board members and volunteers from the Stratford Veterans Museum joined veterans and other groups to participate in the annual Memorial Day ceremony at Academy Hill and parade in honor of those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice as members of the Armed Forces in our nation's conflicts. PHOTOS
'Veterans Guardian' The Stratford Veterans Museum is proud to have on display the painting "Veterans Guardian" by artist Christina Bevans. The painting shows the Blackhawk helicopter on display outside of the Sikorsky Aircraft facility in Stratford. Christina is the daughter of volunteer Mark Bevans. PHOTO
St. James 5th Graders Visit Museum Fifth grade students from St. James Parish School paid a visit to the Stratford Veterans Museum to tour the museum's three floors of displays, including trying out the flight simulator, the virtual reality Oculus experience, and the full size WWI trench section. Take a look here at some visit PHOTOS.
SHS Football Team Does Some Heavy Lifting Members of the Stratford High School football team along with their coach spent a Saturday at the Stratford Veterans Museum helping to move items out of the museum's attic and into the new storage shed. Thanks to all the volunteers who came out to help. PHOTOS
Museum on BHS Podcast Recently Stratford Veterans Museum founding member and treasurer Bill O'Brien had the opportunity to talk about the museum on the Bunnell High School "Bulldog Underground" podcast. Bill's interview starts at the 16:34 mark. LISTEN TO PODCAST
We Made the "Best Things to Do" List! The Stratford Veterans Museum was included on the "15 Best Things to Do in Stratford, CT" list compiled by Travel Lens. READ THE LIST
5th Graders Tour Museum In the first official field trip to the Stratford Veterans Museum, 5th graders, their teacher, and chaperones had the opportunity to tour the museum's three floors of displays, including trying out the flight simulator, the virtual reality Oculus experience, and the full size WWI trench section. Take a look here at some visit photos.
Strivers Help Decorate for Christmas 2022 SEE PHOTOS
Veterans Day 2022 in PHOTOS
Stratford Veterans Banners in the News In recognition of Veterans Day, banners honoring Stratford veterans were placed around town with the support of the Stratford Veterans Museum, which has been in the news over the past few weeks. The Connecticut Post newspaper ran this article on the banners. Also, a film crew from the Channel 12 news was at the museum just prior to Veterans Day for a story on the banners and to do an interview with World War II veteran James Vincent Morgia for this report.
Museum Celebrating One Year Anniversary One year ago, on Nov. 13, 2021, the Stratford Veterans Museum officially opened. In recognition of that event, we are resharing this moving report of that day from Thomas R. Sulier. A Grateful Nation
Veterans Honored at the Baldwin Center The Stratford Baldwin Center honored veterans on November 10 with a special program to recognize the men and women from town who served our nation in the Armed Forces. Among the groups attending was the Stratford High School Select Choir who sang for the veterans. Video.
Veterans Museum Participates in Pumpkin Festival The Stratford Veterans Museum was one of the many groups represented at this year's Pumpkin Festival. SEE PHOTOS
Stratford Library Staff Visits Veterans Museum The staff of the Stratford Library paid a visit to the museum in late October. During the visit the library staff toured the museum and learned about the resources it has to offer. PHOTOS
Veterans Museum Joins Baldwin Senior Men's Club for Fundraiser The Stratford Veterans Museum worked with the Baldwin Senior Men's Club to host a gold tournament fundraiser at Short Beach to benefit both organizations. Photos
STRIVERS Visit Museum Recently members of the Stratford STRIVE program visited the Stratford Veterans Museum to meet some of the volunteers and learn a bit about their country’s and town’s histories. Here are some of the wonderful thank yous they sent. READ MORE
$1,000 Donation to Museum Sean Michael Green, owner of JDOG Junk Removal and Hauling, presents a $1,000 donation to the museum with his daughter, Zoe. Receiving the check is museum treasurer Bill O'Brien.
Museum Receives Grant from Milford Bank Milford Bank recently made a $1,000 grant to the Stratford Veterans Museum. Milford Bank President, CEO Susan Shields, presented the grant check to Treasurer Bill O’Brien for the Stratford Veterans Museum.
Stratford Veterans Museum Opening Day photos
Senator Richard Blumenthal visits Stratford Veterans Museum PHOTOS
In Memory of Susan Carol Bolack Sulier: A Word from Home READ MORE LISTEN TO LETTER SET TO MUSIC
Quilts of Valor Recognizes Four WWII Veterans Watch Channel 12’s coverage of the event.
Sterling House Day Campers take a field trip to the Stratford Veterans Museum. Photo
Four recruiters from the Bridgeport Army Recruitment Office made a stop by the Stratford Veterans Museum. Photo