Greenwich Marks Veterans Day With Annual Patriotic Walk And Ceremony
GREENWICH, CT — Under blue skies and sunshine on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, the community gathered near the World War I monument in downtown Greenwich to honor and thank those who have served in the armed forces.
Veterans Day in Greenwich began with a patriotic walk and parade down Greenwich Avenue, led by the American Legion Post 29, veterans, first responders and local elected officials.
The subsequent ceremony featured comments from American Legion Post 29 Commander Peter LeBeau and First Selectman Fred Camillo in front of a crowd of over 100 people.
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Lucian Niemeyer, an Air Force veteran who has worked in the White House, Pentagon and Congress over the last three decades providing budget, policy and management leadership for U.S. national security programs, served as the ceremony’s keynote speaker.
Niemeyer, whose family has roots in Greenwich, spoke about the sacrifices that veterans have made to serve their country, and he stressed the importance of public service. Less than 5 percent of the American population today is associated with the military, Niemeyer said, a statistic he hopes will change.
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“We must encourage in our stories and family discussions this Thanksgiving, in our schools and in our social media, the value of giving back in public service, the value in contributing to the defense of our common freedoms, the value of looking outside ourselves to ask what we can do for others; and most importantly, the honorable decision to serve in the military,” Niemeyer said, encouraging the community to speak to the country’s youngest population.
“Reach into our schools, talk about public service, not just on this day, but every day,” Niemeyer added. “Find a way to talk to the young people, the young generations, and let them know that public service is a sacred honor, and more importantly, it’s a way to give back.”
Greenwich Public Schools was in session for Veterans Day on Monday. Niemeyer said he hopes to return next year to see “a sea of yellow school buses” and students in attendance at the 2025 Veterans Day ceremony.
Camillo thanked all veterans for their service and touted Greenwich’s longstanding tradition of honoring men and women in uniform.
“Every town in America does this, but Greenwich just seems to do a lot more than most,” he said.
Monday’s ceremony was held in front of Restoration Hardware in what’s known as Veterans Plaza Park, which was dedicated in 1927. In his brief remarks, Camillo reiterated a desire to restore the area.
The project, which was first mentioned in July 2023, would light up the existing flagpole and World War 1 monument – a 50-foot obelisk. A water feature would be added to the plaza, and most notably, a statue of President George H.W. Bush would be erected.
Bush spent his formative years in Greenwich when his father, Prescott Bush, was a U.S. Senator from Connecticut. H.W. Bush attended Greenwich Country Day School, and also met his wife of 73 years, the late Barbara Bush, at a dance in town.
When Bush turned 18, he enlisted in the Navy and eventually flew 58 combat missions during World War II, his official White House biography says.
During one mission over the Pacific Ocean, Bush was shot down by Japanese anti-aircraft fire and he was rescued from the water by a U.S. submarine, according to his bio. Bush was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in action.
On Nov. 14, the Board of Selectmen will discuss a request to accept the statue as a gift; agenda materials don’t state who offered the gift to the town.
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The Representative Town Meeting would ultimately have to approve any gift.
In his remarks, LeBeau urged the crowd to thank a veteran for their service.
“Please treat our veterans as they richly deserve to be treated with sincere gratitude and heartfelt respect. And whenever you meet a veteran, simply say, ‘Thank you for your service.’ Believe me, it means a lot to us,” LeBeau said.
Monday’s ceremony also featured the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America” by Diana Orbanowski, the posting of the Colors by the Greenwich Police Department Honor Guard, the playing of Echo Taps by Ken and Dylan Pond, a rifle salute, and a rendition of “Amazing Grace” on bagpipes by GPD Capt. James Bonney.
Toward the end of the ceremony, a ceremonial wreath was placed at the base of the WWI monument by Niemeyer and former U.S. Navy Lt. William Fowler.
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