Lamont Seeks New State Hero In Form Of WeHa's Noah Webster

WEST HARTFORD/COVENTRY, CT — Bring in Michael Buffer, because a battle is brewing in Connecticut over who should be the official state hero.

In one corner is the current champion, Coventry's Nathan Hale, the Revolutionary War hero who regretted that he had but one life to give for his country prior to his hanging by the British as an American spy.

His challenger, however, is West Hartford's own Noah Webster, the man believed by many to be the father of the modern English language, whose dictionary by his name is a standard part of every student's academic arsenal in the English-speaking world.

So what's it going to be? The man who died for his yet-to-be-born country? Or the man from this country who played a role in the modern English Language?

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont weighed in on the subject Monday afteroon with a video posted at 1:30 p.m. stating he supports Webster out of West Hartford.

He made the declaration in a short video via Twitter that went out Monday afternoon.

In it, Lamont said the state legislature has to decide who the Connecticut State Hero is again, as well as state food, state dog and state candy.

He supports pizza for food, Pez for state candy and a hockey decider between Yale University and the University of Connecticut for state dog.

If UConn does better, then it is the husky. If Yale does better, the bulldog.

But the "state hero" declaration aims to raise a few eyebrows.

Lamont, in is minute-and-a-half segment, eschewed the current hero, Hale, over Webster.

He called Hale a "nice guy," but pointed out if Hale had two lives to live for his country, he would have died twice in two weeks, pointing out that Hale was captured after only a week of service.

"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," Lamont said. "I think I'll go with Noah Webster."

Of course, both heroes have historical sites in their respective towns.

The Hale Homestead is operated by Connecticut Landmarks in Coventry and it represents the place where Hale was born and once lived. It is located at 2299 South St., Coventry.

Meanwhile, the West Hartford Historical Society operates the Noah Webster House at 227 S. Main St., West Hartford.

The interim director there, Amy Fernand Boulton, expressed excitement Monday at the prospects of the state hero being located in West Hartford.

"We are thrilled that Gov. Lamont proposes Noah Webster as the Connecticut state hero," she said Monday afternoon.

"Founding father, author, and lexicographer, Noah Webster helped our fledgling nation define American culture and taught generations of Americans what it means to be American.

Boulton even utilizes a competing dictionary's definition of "hero" to describe West Hartford's historical idol

"Merriam-Webster defines hero as 'a person admired for achievements and noble qualities,'" Boulton said. "Noah is certainly our hero."

For more information on the Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry, click on this link.

For more information on the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society Museum, click on this link.