Danbury is making some changes to the Office of Veterans Affairs.  The director's position was left vacant with the passing of Patrick Waldron in October 2014.  The Danbury Veterans Affairs Committee has now been formed, and the City Council approved the appointment of Danny Hayes as the Veterans Services Officer at their meeting Tuesday night.

The Danbury War Memorial is being asked to provide veterans services that the City used to provide through the Veterans Affairs Department.  Money has been included in the budget proposed for the coming fiscal year to provide the services.

Mayor Mark Boughton said that Waldron was a loyal employee who served at the City's Director of Veterans Affairs for almost 30 years.  He was a Korean War Veteran.

Hayes served in the Army from 1988-1992, and spend six months in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.  He received the Bronze Star for his actions overseas.  He was honorably discharged as a Specialist from Danbury's 411th Civil Affairs Company in 1996.  He has received several other awards from the U.S. Army, various community organizations and the City of Danbury's Fire and Police Departments' Civilian Award.

Hayes joined the War Memorial Board of Directors in 1999 and served six years, including two years as President.  Hayes then managed the War Memorial, and became Executive Director in 2010. 

Boughton also noted that since Waldron's passing, Danbury gained another point of contact for veterans services.  The VA runs an office off North Main Street in The Atrium Building.