know how municipal budgets worked, noting that he work on submarines and tries to
put warheads on foreheads. He stated that he did not envy the Finance Committee’s
responsibility, but thought that it was important for them to understand what policies
like this one would mean for the people they affect. He stated for Disabled Veterans
and Active Duty Members that most of their struggles do not show on the outside,
noting that some carry physical injuries; while others carry the weight of experiences.
He stated unless they have served or lived through those circumstances, that it was
difficult to fully understand what some of Veterans have gone through. He stated that
the tax exemptions were not handouts, noting that it was a small acknowledgement
of service and sacrifice the he believe they have earned. He stated that it was an
opportunity for the community to recognize some of the people and the burdens that
they have gone through, and would live with long after the uniform comes off. He
stated that Ledyard sits next to the Submarine Capital of the World; and the Active
Duty Members and Veterans are part of the community, they volunteer to coach
youth sports, they support local businesses, and they try to be good neighbors. If
stated if the town removes benefits that support Veterans, people like him would
seriously consider living in surrounding towns where the cost of living was be
cheaper, noting that the loss of a good neighbor may be far greater than a simple tax
dollar in a yearly budget
Mr. Mark Jones, 202 Whalehead Road, Ledyard, stated during their military careers
many of them have bounced all over the place, noting that he began his Navy career
in Pensacola Florida, then went to Virginia, San Diego California, Massimo Japan,
and Bahrain. He stated when he decided to hang up the uniform and to continue to
serve his country as a civilian, he chose to live in Southeastern Connecticut. He
stated when Connecticut passed Public Act #24-45 to provide a tax exemption benefit
for Disabled Veterans, that was when he decided to stay. He stated that he always
thought Veterans were like the old guys, like his Grandfather, and then one day when
he woke up, he realized that he was a veteran. He stated if they were going to change
the tax exemption benefit that it would not only affect old guys, but that it would also
affect young men and women, their kids, and the next generation that were going to
be the veterans. He stated that they were building the most high-tech machines ever
made by the human race just down the river, in Groton, and that they do not want to
lose that brain power, noting that the best people that builds submarines were the
ones that operated submarines. Therefore, he stated that they do not want their
Veterans to leave their community, noting keeping the tax exemption benefit
provided by Public Act #24-45 was a to keep their community together.
Mr. Raymond Costa, 25 Eagle Ridge Drive, Gales Ferry, thanked everyone for the
great turnout this evening, noting that he served in the U.S. Army. He stated that he
did not know that this was going on. until he heard from Veterans Representative
Ryan Landry . He stated that he left the Army rather abruptly, noting that he was
medically retired, and did not retire after 20- years of service. He stated that his life
was turned upside down in everything that he thought he was going to do. He stated
luckily he had family that was working at Electric Boat-General Dynamics, and that
he lived them for a year and a half while he was looking for a place to live, noting
that he eventually settled in Gales Ferry because of the tightness of the town. He
stated like other folks mentioned this evening, his family was involved in the sports
