Press Releases
01/11/2016
Major General Martin: Connecticut United to Support Military Families This Holiday Season
HARTFORD, CT - Maj. Gen. Thaddeus J. Martin, Adjutant General and Commander of the Connecticut National Guard, announced that the Operation E.L.F. (Embracing Lonely Families) campaign, which ran from November 11 to December 19, 2015, raised nearly $18,000 in gift cards and financial support and collected hundreds of toys for Connecticut's military families.
Additionally, the Adopt-a-Family program, an anonymous effort to help military families in need during the holiday season, saw 56 families adopted by 46 donors that included local businesses, organizations and individuals.
"Operation E.L.F. 2015 was a resounding success," said Maj. Gen. Martin.
"Connecticut residents, whether through their generous donations or volunteering services, have gone above and beyond in support of Connecticut service members and their families. We appreciate the Lieutenant Governor's continued commitment to this state's military families, and thank all those residents and businesses who contributed."
"Our military men and women make such sacrifices for us, Operation E.L.F. is one small but important way we can give back and support what they do for state and country," said Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman. "I am thankful for General Martin and his team-their commitment to families from every military branch makes a real difference in their lives throughout the year. I'm also deeply grateful to the residents of Connecticut for stepping forward on behalf of our service members and their families."
Along with six military facilities serving as drop-off points for donations of gift cards and new, unwrapped toys, the Governor's Residence once again spearheaded collection efforts during holiday open houses, with hundreds of dollars in gift cards and toys collected. The campaign was capped off by a party for military families held on December 19, 2015 at the William A.
O'Neill Armory. The event was hosted by 90 volunteers, including Santa, who gave gifts to each child of a service member.
The services provided by the program are not exclusive to the Connecticut National Guard, and members of all service components and branches are encouraged to sign up. Local groups that donated gifts to Operation E.L.F. included the Crowley Auto Group, Total Communications, the Hartford Wolf Pack, and the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association.
The Connecticut National Guard currently has approximately 200 service members deployed around the world.
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For Immediate Release: January 11, 2016
Captain Mike Petersen
Director, Public Affairs
Connecticut National Guard
860.524.4857 (o) 860.883.5336 (m)
michael.t.petersen.mil@mail.mil
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Office of Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman