News Release
Online image Office of John B. Larson
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Contact: Representative John B. Larson
Contact: Kelly Fellner, 413-734-8551
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) and Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy applauded the National Park Service’s selection of East Hartford as an American World War II Heritage City.
“We are thrilled to announce East Hartford’s selection as a World War II Heritage City. Together as a delegation, we urged the National Park Service to make this designation because of the integral role Connecticut workers and industry, centered in East Hartford, played in the Allied victory,” said Larson, Blumenthal, and Murphy. “360,000 engines powering the Army and Navy were produced by 40,000 Pratt & Whitney workers. East Hartford is a world leader in aircraft manufacturing, stemming from a war mobilization effort that tripled the community’s population and transformed the town from a small farming community to the industrial hub we know today.”
“This designation takes on special significance for me since my father served in World War II and both my mother and father worked at Pratt & Whitney during the war, from the age of 17. After proudly serving our nation in World War II, my father came home to a career at Pratt spanning another 37 years,” Larson continued.
“I am deeply proud to see East Hartford receive the well-deserved distinction of an American World War II Heritage City,” said Blumenthal. “East Hartford is practically synonymous with Pratt & Whitney, a global leader in military engines that grew from the WWII mobilization efforts. Thousands of skilled workers came to the city to help meet the demand for military engines, and many of them stayed and put down roots here with their families. This designation is a tremendous honor for East Hartford and a testament to the exceptionally skilled workforce at Pratt & Whitney, both past and present.”
“Pratt and Whitney is considered the founding father of East Hartford and this is an enormous designation for our community and a testament to the integral role Pratt and Whitney plays on a global level. We are excited to share this news with the community today and look forward to an official ceremony when we revisit this announcement and designation again in early 2023,” said East Hartford Mayor Mike Walsh.
“It is fitting that East Hartford, Connecticut along with Springfield, Massachusetts, were both designated by the National Park Service as American World War II Heritage Cities,” said Kelly Fellner, Superintendent of Coltsville National Historical Park. “The history of invention and innovation in precision manufacturing is rooted along the Connecticut River Valley in factories set up by Colt, Pratt & Whitney, Ames, and Smith & Wesson and many others. The technological advances they developed in firearms, automobile, and aircraft production, combined with a highly skilled and eager workforce perfectly positioned these cities to meet the increased demand to supply the troops during World War II.”
Created by Congress in 2019, the World War II Heritage Cities Program recognizes the crucial role domestic efforts played in the war mobilization effort. East Hartford was selected by the National Park Service as one of 18 American World War II Heritage Cities across the country.
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Last updated: December 13, 2022