Veterans Inducted Into Hall of Fame

Two Meriden residents, a former Berlin patrolman and a Rocky Hill man were among 10 veterans statewide who were inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame, Class of 2011, on Friday.

The ceremony took place at 5 p.m. in the Atrium of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford and was presided over by Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman.

Madelon Baranoski, a retired U.S. Army Nurse Corps member and Ronald Perry, retired from the U.S. Marine Corps, and both Vietnam veterans from Meriden, were inducted into the hall of fame during the ceremony.

Baranoski served as the chairman of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program and now serves as an associate professor of medicine at Yale Law School. Her research has been very instrumental in promoting understanding of the physiological reactions of stress on disease and behavior.     

Perry is an active and avid supporter of veteran’s causes and is best known for his planning and execution of Marine Corps birthday celebrations in Connecticut.  He is a retired senior account executive of the Wellcare Management Group.

Ronald Catania of Rocky Hill, a Vietnam veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force during the war, also was inducted during Friday’s ceremonies. Catania currently serves with numerous charitable organizations and is a champion of the return-to-work program for veterans.  A vice-president of Sage Allen and Bob’s Stores, Catania also serves on the Board of Directors of the CT Police Chiefs Assoc. After the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, he volunteered to take shoes and clothing to New York City for EMS, Fire and Police personnel.

Richard Rampone of Kensington, who served with the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam, was also inducted during the ceremony. Rampone, who was a patrol officer for the Berlin Police Department, is the state commandant of the Marine Corps League Department. He contributes to countless local and state patriotic and military organizations.

 The other 2011 Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame inductees were:

•  Samuel Beamon, Sr. of Waterbury, U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam 1st Marine Air Wing
• Rev. Dr. G. Kenneth Carpenter of Mystic, U.S. Navy, Vietnam
• John Chiarella of Waterbury, U.S. Army, Korea/Vietnam
• Harold Farrington of Old Saybrook, U.S. Army, Vietnam
• Phillip Kraft of Darien, U.S. Army, Vietnam
• Burke Ross of Shelton, U.S. Marine Corps, WWII

 The induction ceremony was presided over by Wyman and Linda Schwartz, commissioner of the state’s Department of Veterans Affairs. Leaders of the state’s veterans’ community also joined them at the ceremony.

The Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame, which was created by former Gov. M. Jodi Rell, recognizes distinguished veterans who have made significant contributions to their communities after leaving military service. Each inductee or family representative received a commemorative medallion recognizing his or her induction.

To see a complete listing of the Hall of the Fame, click here.