Sen. Linares Backing Bill Naming Route 151 in Honor of Local WWII Hero

Article as it appeared in East Haddam Today

Bill would name stretch of Route 151 in honor of local WWII hero

World War II veteran Peter P. Golec, born and raised in the Moodus section of East Haddam, gave his life in defense of our country and now there is a proposal – Proposed Bill No. 6044 – to rename a stretch of Route 151 in East Haddam to honor his service.

On Friday, March 8, the Connecticut legislature’s Transportation Committee held a public hearing on the bill proposed by State Rep. Melissa Ziobron on behalf of the Golec family and the general community.

Ziobron represents the 34th House District – East Haddam, East Hampton and a section of Colchester.

According to Rep. Ziobron, PFC Golec was drafted into the United States Army on July 9, 1941 just five months before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

After training in various locations, Golec was shipped overseas to England with the 4th Armored Division in December of 1943. After landing at Utah Beach, Golec fought from Normandy across France and was killed in action on Nov. 28, 1944 on the German border.

Golec was a decorated soldier who earned a number of accolades, Ziobron said, including the prestigious Combat Infantry Badge and two Purple Hearts.

He was the son of Polish immigrants and was born and raised in Moodus, a section of East Haddam, CT. According to his family, Golec walked a particular stretch of Route 151 every day of his life prior to his military service.

The route of the Memorial Highway proposed to be renamed in Golec’s honor runs along the same street he walked and where the family homestead still stands today – it bi-sects the end of Neptune Avenue, where the Baron-Smith-Golec Post 156 American Legion is located.

Due to a snow storm on Friday, Walter Golec, Peter’s nephew, was not able to make the trip to Hartford to attend the public hearing. However, Ziobron went before the Transportation Committee to ensure his testimony and his uncle’s story, was heard by the members.

“I am concerned that PFC Golec will not be remembered for his ultimate sacrifice and would like to recognize a member of the ‘greatest generation’ with this honor,” Ziobron said in a prepared statement. “It will shine as a light for those in the community, who may come here in the future, who do not know of PFC Golec or his contribution to our great country. It would be a tremendous honor for this hero’s sacrifice to live on.”

State Sen. Arthur Linares, who serves the 33rd Senate District, also submitted testimony in support of the bill honoring a hometown hero.

“Renaming part of Route 151 the ‘Private First Class Peter P. Golec Memorial Highway’ would be a fitting tribute to a member of ‘The Greatest Generation’ who made the ultimate sacrifice for this country and the freedoms we so dearly cherish,” Sen. Linares said.

Posted March 8, 2013