MICHAEL MASTRONI
(Nominated by Kathryn Cross)
Connecticut’s Old State House
June 14, 2011
Michael is the founder of The Connecticut Fallen Heroes Foundation dedicated to the fallen servicemen and women of Connecticut. A long-time employee of Sikorsky, he started the organization in 2005 as a result of the effect the death of a young soldier had on his daughter who had been a classmate. Each year the group, primarily made up of Sikorsky employees, holds fundraisers to raise the money to pay tribute to those from within the state of Connecticut who have been killed in the line of duty. Every year it expands in scope when those who attend the annual event because their loved one is being honored return to the following year to lend support to the families of those being honored the next year. Although the original focus was on those who had lost their lives in the War on Terror, the group has recognized those from previous wars, including a WWII tail gunner from a B24 Liberator whose body was discovered in Western Hungary and whose 90 year old sister gave permission to honor him at the 2008 event.
