North Granby Man Among Seven Added to the 'Wall of Honor' Thursday

An emotional ceremony Thursday afternoon in the atrium of the Legislative Office building in Hartford left several families with both tears and smiles as seven new portraits were added to the 56 already hung as part of the Connecticut Wall of Honor.

Among those honored was Richard C. Emmons III, an Army specialist killed in the line of duty nearly one year ago while serving as the driver on a mounted patrol in Logar Province, Afghanistan. He was 22 years old.

Emmons graduated from Granby Memorial High School in 2006 and knew that he wanted to enlist in the Army. His mother, Janice Tighe-Hogan, persuaded him to give college a try first. He did, but it didn't meet his expectations.

Then, in 2009, Emmons took a step toward making his dream come true.

“One day in May 2009, he comes through the door with a big smile on his face and he says, ‘Well mom, I’ve done it,’” of Emmons enlisting in the Army.

Emmons was deployed to Afghanistan on October 2010 and was killed seven months later.

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In addition to Emmons, six other new portraits were hung as part of the state's Wall of Honor, meant to recognize the sacrifice made by men and women who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2007. They include:

Army Spec. Philip C.S. Schiller, 21, of Winsted (2012)

Army Pfc. Eric D. Soufrine, 20, of Woodbridge. (2011)

Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Brian R. Bill, 31, of Stamford. (2011)

Army Sgt. Edward J. Frank II, 26, of Hartford. (2011)

Army Staff Sgt. Ari R. Cullers, 28, of Waterford. (2011)

Army Spec. Dennis Pratt, 34, of Southington. (2009)