KATHRYN CROSS
(Nominated by Diana McCormack)
Connecticut’s Old State House
June 14, 2011
Kathryn is a Navy Gold Star Mother, an American Gold Star Mother Volunteer, VAVS Gold Star Mother Representative for the Manhattan Harborside VA Medical Center in New York City and a member of the United War Veterans Council, producers of the New York City Veterans Day Parade. An accomplished artist, she creates thousands of greeting cards for distribution by volunteers currently in 26 states to service members and hospitalized veterans. This fall with the support of UHaul International she will depart from Manhattan to embark on “The Tribute Journey”. She and her team of volunteers will visit service members and hospitalized veterans across the country with her card entitled “Parade Day” to return to New York City on November 11, 2011 for the New York City Veteran’s Day Parade. Kathryn is the mother of three children, son Jason who is an Information Technologies Major, daughter Emily a Fine Arts Major both in College and son, Tyler (CorkyJo) J. Connely who served proudly in the United States Navy as a Law Enforcement Specialist, K-9 & Training Seal. On January 15th, 2002, Tyler was killed on duty while on night patrol along the Grindavik Highway near Keflavik, Iceland. Kathryn often recalls her sons words when she asked him while he served on night watch Christmas Eve just following September 11th 2001 if he were happy, he proudly replied: “I am a lifer Ma, I love what I do!”, so he was.
