Town of South Windsor

History/Property Information:

On June 26, 2000, 74.9 acres was purchased from John Mitchell for the sum of $750,000 utilizing both the State of Connecticut Open Space and Watershed Acquisition Grant and the Town Open Space Referendum Funding. On December 19, 2001, an additional 40.6 acres was added to the north of the property as part of the open space component of the Strawberry Fields Development. Today the property consists of 115.5 acres.

The South Windsor Town Council has, for some time sought to recognize, in a significant way, one of this Town’s own – Air Force Major Michael Donnelly, a young man of courage and determination, brought up in our Town, who still makes his home in South Windsor, and, significantly, is a Veteran and casualty of the Persian Gulf War. As a result of his brave and selfless service in the Persian Gulf War, he contracted ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

After six years of courageous and impassioned efforts on behalf of his fellow Gulf War Veterans, and while suffering greatly himself from the disease, Major Donnelly has won the first step in his own private battle to prove that there is, in truth, a direct connection between participation in that War and the contraction of ALS.

Because of Major Donnelly’s six-year campaign to convince the Federal Government of this connection, the U. S. Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs, Anthony J. Principi, has concurred and ordered medical, disability, and survivor benefits for those Veterans affected, and their surviving families – the first time the Federal Government has linked a specific illness to service in the Persian Gulf War.

The South Windsor Town Council, on behalf of its residents, and in recognition of Major Michael Donnelly and his family, and other Persian Gulf War Veterans and their families who, because of their dedication to duty and the call of their Country to serve in this region, have suffered and lost much to this debilitating disease, wishes to thank Major Michael Donnelly for his heroism; and to thank he and his wife Susan Allen Donnelly, his daughter Erin, his son Sean, his parents Tom and Rae Donnelly; and his sister Denise Donnelly for the difference they have made in the quality of life for many of those brave men and women who fought the War in the Persian Gulf. On January 7, 2002, the Town Council formally named the property the “Major Michael Donnelly Land Preserve” in honor of Major Michael Donnelly.

The property was formally dedicated and a sign marking the property entrance off Sullivan Avenue was unveiled on Veterans’ Day, November 11, 2003.