Greenwich Honors Veterans With Parade, Ceremony

GREENWICH, CT — Under blue skies and fall sunshine, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the Greenwich community gathered near the World War I monument in downtown Greenwich to honor all 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; Chief Daniel Daly of the Fire Department of the City of New York (Ret.); and First Selectman Fred Camillo.

United States Air Force Col. Alan Clair (Ret.), a Vietnam veteran, was the keynote speaker.

"Since 1919, America has been engaged in many armed conflicts around the globe. We have done so to not only protect our beloved country from foreign aggression, but to liberate tens of millions of people from oppressive genocidal dictatorships," said LeBeau in his opening remarks. "What we did was noble, righteous and just."

Camillo said Veterans Day is one of a handful of holidays that are special and unique to the United States. He thanked veterans past, present and future for their service.

"Veterans Day is special because we recognize that men and women, for the last few centuries, stopped whatever they were doing to join the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard," Camillo said. "They left behind the lives they were living, and they did so not because they were fueled by hate, but because they were fueled by love; love of country, love of family, love of friends, love of neighbors, love of our history."

Daly helped lead the crowd of over 100 people in the Pledge of Allegiance. Having worked as a firefighter in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, he recalled the symbolic passing of the torch from rescue workers to armed service members, who went overseas in the following months as the war in Afghanistan began.

"They (veterans) took the flag from us at Ground Zero and brought it thousands of miles to find those who perpetrated that heinous act," Daly said.

Clair served 21 months in Vietnam as a navigator on a C-130 Hercules Aircraft. He received numerous commendations for his service as part of a 32-year military career.

During his speech, Clair spoke about the sacrifices veterans have made, and recalled several deadly battles that have occurred over the course of history. He asked the crowd to raise their hands if they thought veterans, in their last moments of life, thought about their family or prayed to God.

He spoke about current day events regarding the war in Afghanistan, and the state of social and political issues.

"Surely [veterans who have died] are rolling over in their graves at the current state of affairs, while asking, 'Is this what I sacrificed my time and my blood for?'"

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Ken Pond from the Round Hill Volunteer Fire Department and Iris Araki from Greenwich High School, performed Echo Taps.

James Bonney of the Greenwich Police Department played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes, and the Byram Veterans Honor Guard issued a rifle salute.

Camillo, Clair and LeBeau then placed a ceremonial wreath at the base of the World War I monument.

Later on Thursday, the Byram Veterans Association marched from Veterans Way down Delavan Avenue to the front of the Byram Firehouse for a wreath-laying ceremony.