What's Happening in Hartford, CT…

Work on a memorial to Connecticut's veterans, which has been in the pipeline since 2007, is finally underway.

Having begun last month, it is tentatively set to be completed by November 28. Input from veterans was considered in the design, according to Linda Schwartz, who is commission of the state's Department of Veterans Affairs. The memorial is the first of its kind in Connecticut.

The shrine will feature granite walls, lighting, sidewalks, flagpoles, benches, columns, and the Connecticut state seal. Schwartz, who is herself a veteran of Vietnam, said the memorial is meant to honor not just those who have given their lives, but the nearly 300,000 Connecticut veterans living and working in the Constitution State.

Originally planned to be built in Rocky Hill, the memorial was later moved to Hartford because veterans felt it should be located in the capital city. Schwartz said she thought the placement was ideal, since the site is surrounded by the armory on one side, representing those who fight, and the legislative office building on the other, representing the lawmakers. In the middle is the memorial to remind visitors of the price many have paid to preserve liberty.

City officials might consider working with a banner printing company to create an outdoor display to have in place when the memorial is opened.