Greenwich Gathers to Honor Veterans: “We must reignite the desire for public service in our country”

Monday was a gorgeous day to honor veterans in Greenwich. The sun was shining brightly on Greenwich Avenue as members of the Greenwich Police Dept and honor guard joined elected officials and members of the community to walk from Amogerone Crossway to the World War I memorial outside the historic former post office building.

At 11:00 there was a ceremony organized by American Legion Post 29.

Speakers included American Legion Post 29 commander Peter Le Beau and First Selectman Fred Camillo.

“Where we stand right now was called Veterans Plaza Park dedicated in 1927,” Camillo said. “Some time in 2025 we will re-dedicate this with a flagpole that will be lit up, an obelisk that will be lit up, and a water feature beyond those trees. And, in a few days the RTM is going to be presented with a gift for a statue of a veteran who grew up here and spent the first 18 years of his life in Greenwich.”

Speaking of George Herbert Walker Bush, Camillo said,  “That person was the youngest person shot down in the Navy as a pilot, at 18 years old in the South Pacific. He then flew 58 combat missions, and then went on to  serve in many different capacities and finally ended up at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue as our 41st president.”

“Yesterday we proudly celebrated the 249th birthday of the United States Marine Corps,” LeBeau said to cheers. “A fighting force without peer in modern history. To all the Marines here, let us say with you a most happy birthday with a rousing Semper Fi!”

“If you have had the opportunity to get to know any veterans, you know they are quite unselfish, asking little of our country, grateful that they live in the greatest democracy in history of civilization,’ LeBeau said.

LeBeau introduced featured speaker Hon. Lucian Niemeyer.

Before delivering his formal remarks, Niemeyer said, “We need to resolve this whole issue between the Military Academy and Naval Academy. How about this: Go Army and Navy, beat China.”

“Freedom is not free,” Niemeyer said. “Have we truly considered the worth and the tragic costs? First, the worth: the freedom to speak our minds, to worship as we choose, to pursue happiness, to achieve prosperity through hard work and to elect leaders without fear or hatred. Ultimately, to unite as Americans  committed to the rule of law. These freedoms were bought and paid for by the sacrifice of our veterans.”

“We should not, we can not leave here untouched,” he added. “We need to vow today to reignite the desire for public service in our country. Less than five percent of the American population today is associated with the military.”

“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 of contributing to the defense of our common freedoms, the value of looking outside ourselves to ask what can we do for others. And, most importantly, the honorable decision to service in the military.”

“There is a call today to reach into our schools and talk about public service, not just on this day, but every day,” he added.  “I hope to see next year, across the parking lot a sea of yellow school buses filled with students who have come here to listen and commemorate with us.”