Major. Gen. Francis Evon, adjutant general of the Connecticut National Guard, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Rep. Joe Courtney and other state representatives conduct a ceremonial ground breaking at the site of the new Connecticut National Guard Readiness Center in Putnam, Conn. Oct. 28, 2022. This new building marks the first time the Connecticut National Guard will maintain a presence in Putnam, and the Northeast region of the state, in fifteen years. The Guard had a presence in the region dating back to 1896 but eventually withdrew it after 2007 when the original Putnam Armory was declared excess and turned over to the town.