Groton — The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut thanked more than 150 military personnel for their service at the 4th annual Military Appreciation Breakfast on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

“It’s wonderful to see so many young men and women in uniform who are proud of what they do,” said Tony Sheridan, the chamber’s president. “It was a very uplifting, positive event.” 

Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, Rear Adm. Kenneth M. Perry, commander of Submarine Group Two, and Rear Adm. Sandra L. Stosz, superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy, spoke at the breakfast.

Wyman said service members and their families “deserve our support when they are deployed, and just as much when they return.”

“That is what today is all about,” she said. “And that is what the work that the chamber does year-round for our veterans is all about.”

The group that gathered at the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa included local business, community and political leaders. Electric Boat, Bank of America and Dunkin’ Donuts gave the service members free tickets to the breakfast. 

“The work that these sailors are doing to maintain the ships, to ready themselves for critical missions in key regions of the world, I can’t thank them enough. They do it with the full support of the business groups represented here in southeastern Connecticut. Thank you,” Perry said.

Two local businesses were recognized for supporting the military during the breakfast, Groton’s Country Glen Apartments and Fields of Fire, a new paintball park in Mystic.

The chamber plans to continue holding the breakfast each year.

“We want this, plus the other programs we are doing, to be a part of our effort to promote the military and support them in any way we can,” Sheridan said.

Many of the chamber’s members offer discounts to service members and their families. For information, visit www.chamberect.com/military-discount.