CT State Senator: Governor's Words About Nathan Hale 'Disappointing'

COVENTRY, CT — The political posturing over the state hero debate hit high gear Wednesday with the senator who represents Nathan Hale's hometown of Coventry calling Gov. Ned Lamont's comments on the current state hero "disappointing."

Lamont recently made a pitch to oust Hale's status as the state hero in favor of Noah Webster. Hale hailed from Coventry and Webster called West Hartford home. In 1776, Hale was hanged at the age of 21 as a spy by British forces in the Revolutionary War. Webster laid the foundation for the modern dictionary.

Lamont, in a minute-and-a-half recorded segment, said Hale was a, "nice enough guy who was captured after a week at the inn. If he had two lives to give for his country, he would have been a spy for us for two weeks."

He added, "I'm putting in a vote for Noah Webster. He put together the American language from what's going on in Great Britain, helped bring our country together ... I think I'll go with Noah Webster."

Not so fast, said state Sen. Jeff Gordon a Republican whose district includes Coventry and the Hale Homestead.

"Governor Lamont’s comment about American Revolutionary War soldier and hero Nathan Hale is wrong and very disappointing," Gordon said. "Hale fought for what he believed was right — his fellow Americans who wanted a free country, not one controlled by King George III and a parliament overseas. The State of Connecticut officially recognized in 1985 what he did as a hero."

Gordon continued, "Not only do the people of Coventry, where Hale was born in 1755, know him as a hero, but so do people across the state and our country. His words, 'I regret that I have but one life to lose for my country' echo throughout the generations of Americans who sacrificed defending America and our rights, freedoms, and security."

Gordon said a famous Democrat even uttered the theme.

"When President Kennedy said in 1961, 'Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,' he could have been channeling what Nathan Hale did," Gordon said.

He even invited Lamont to Coventry.

"I have been to the Nathan Hale homestead a number of times. I ask the Governor to join me with a visit as my guest. I continue to fight every day as a State Senator for our communities, including Coventry," Gordon said.

Gordon's 35th Senate District that includes the towns of Ashford, Chaplin, Coventry, Eastford, Ellington, Hampton, Stafford, Thompson, Tolland, Union, Vernon, Willington, and Woodstock.