Photo By Timothy Koster | Mike Rell, son of the late Gov. M. Jodi Rell, delivers remarks during a press...... read more read more
Connecticut Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and the Connecticut Military Department announced they are renaming their Operation Embracing Lonely Families (E.L.F) program after the late Gov. M. Jodi Rell, during a press at the Gov. William A. O’Neill Armory in Hartford, Conn., Nov. 7, 2025.
Rell, who passed away on Nov. 20, 2024, founded Operation E.L.F. in 2001 to support families of Connecticut Guardsmen who’re experiencing hardships during the holiday season due to servicemember deployment.
“Governor Rell achieved so much during her time in public service, but I truly believe Operation E.L.F. was her favorite accomplishment and I can’t think of a better way to honor her legacy,” said Bysiewicz.
Mike Rell, Gov. Rell’s son, shared a touching story about his mother and her experience as a military spouse spending holidays alone, which spawned her desire to help other military families.
“This all started with an idea that I think was all too familiar with my mom,” said Rell. “She married a Navy pilot who, himself, was on deployment sometimes up to six months, so she knew what she was getting into, she just didn’t know she would be alone for the holidays, herself. He later became a pilot for TWA and she knew then … that my dad was often away for the holidays, so she had the idea back then in 2001 to support those families just like her who are alone in the holidays, struggling, trying to get the Christmas presents bought, trying to get the house in order, kids where they need to be, it was a big task to ask of just one spouse at the time.”
This year, the Connecticut National Guard has nearly 800 Soldiers and Airmen currently deployed or in the deployment cycle, making it one of the largest deployments for the state in the last 15 years.
“This program eases the stress that our military families have during the holidays; they’ve already got enough on their plate, and this year we have a significant increase in the number of our military men and women that’re deployed overseas,” said Bysiewicz. “We’re at a 15 year high with folks being deployed and this is going to give us the opportunity to help all those families as our National Guard members are serving and protecting our country overseas.”
This holiday season is especially stressful for many National Guard families with the ongoing government shutdown and lack of appropriations, resulting in multiple missed paychecks for military technicians who work fulltime for the National Guard.
“While our members serve abroad, their families manage life here at home,” said Maj. Gen. Francis J. Evon, commander of the Connecticut National Guard. “For many, that brings an additional financial and logistical burden and stress, especially this year with some members of the guard, our work force, experiencing unexpected challenges beyond their control.”
“We live in a period of extraordinary operational tempo, financial uncertainty, and deployment hardship and Operation E.L.F. stands to fill that gap for them,” Evon added. “It delivers assistance such as toys for children, gift cards for groceries and gas, and support for families to stay on their feet … it’s about making our Guard families know that they’re not forgotten, their sacrifices are honored, and that their community stands behind them.”
If members of the community are interested in helping support the families of Connecticut’s deployed servicemembers, Operation E.L.F. is looking for donations of new, unwrapped toys and gift cards. Financial donations can also be made to the Connecticut National Guard Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
For more information, please contact the Connecticut National Guard Service Member and Family Support Center at (800) 858-2677 or visit the Connecticut National Guard Foundation website at https://ctngfi.org.
| Date Taken: | 11.08.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.14.2025 10:11 |
| Story ID: | 550839 |
| Location: | HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, US |
| Web Views: | 322 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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