Numerous Connecticut officials gathered to celebrate the troops over the recent Fourth of July holiday. As part of the celebration, state and local officials highlighted legislation they had passed in recent years to benefit veterans.

Recently created veterans' benefits cover a gamut of areas that aid both veterans and their families. Some of the lesser measures include free lifetime passes for any disabled veteran to any state park, forest or recreational facility, and having "Veteran Status" printed on their driver's license.

Among the more substantive measures is STEP-UP for Veterans, a program designed to help post-September 11th veterans -- a group that has suffered unemployment rates as high as 30 percent. The program pays some of the costs involved in hiring and training new employees when businesses hire a veteran.

Likewise, thanks to Fairer Taxes for Afghanistan Veterans, soldiers serving in Afghanistan or the Middle East do not have to pay property tax interest rates.

In addition to these state-specific benefits, Connecticut veterans who served during wartime are eligible for military benefits from the federal government. These benefits, though not widely known about, aim to provide veterans with the medical service they require.

These benefits are based on the level of medical service the veteran needs and can be as much as $1,842 per month for medical care and service for a single veteran. Veterans with dependents may receive even more.

The widow or widower of a veteran may also be eligible for benefits through the Aid and Attendance program. Surviving, non-veteran spouses may receive as much as $998 per month for medical care including the cost of staying at an assisted living facility or for home care services.

Source: Hamden Patch, "Officials Come Together to Celebrate, Thank Vets in Norwalk," DJ McAneny, July 4, 2012