By Avery Imp
At Tuesday’s Independence Day Celebration at Greenwich Town Hall, the community came together to celebrate America’s 247th birthday.
The Independence Day Association of Greenwich hosted the event which included a flag-raising and recognition of Greenwich’s patriots.
Elected officials in attendance included US Democratic Congressman Jim Himes, who represents Connecticut’s 4th District in the US House of Representatives, Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo, Selectwoman Lauren Rabin, Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan, and State Rep Steve Meskers (D-150).
Camillo shared that Greenwich recently entered a sister city relationship with Izyum, Ukraine, a city was chosen due to its similar size and age to Greenwich.
“And there’s another similarity,” he said. “For the last year and a half, they’ve been fighting for their lives over there, for their very existence. It may be hard to imagine as we look out to the streets beyond us and around us, but Greenwich was a battle zone in the late 1770s and the early 1780s.”
He shared that after the American Revolutionary War, the RTM asked the General Assembly in Hartford for a tax abatement and attempted to take away residency from those who were loyal to the British crown. Ten years later, Hartford responded by offering land in Ohio as compensation.
“Greenwich really was ground zero for those seven and a half years,” he concluded. “So when we think about compensation, we know what they were offered then, but how do we offer compensation? We really can’t, nor can we repay them, but we can honor them. We can honor them by remembering them, today, and every day. Happy birthday, America.”
Greenwich Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Explorers presented the flags of the original thirteen colonies, which were generously donated by the Malcolm Pray Foundation.
After Benny Molina and Alex Servidio, representing the Arch Street Teen Center, read the poem, “I Am The Flag,” a replica of the original colonial flag created by Betsy Ross was raised.
Retired Army captain Frances “Kip” Burweger, who served in the Vietnam War, led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Select readings of the Declaration of Independence were read by Greenwich students Steele Barhydt, Briar Lissauer, Annetta Solari, George Solari, and Max Quigley.
Then, Mary Ellen LeBien discussed Greenwich’s origins.
“At this time we want to remember the two people, Robert Feake and Daniel Patrick, who in 1640 purchased the land from the Native Americans that become Greenwich, and to remember Elizabeth Feake, Robert’s wife, who purchased by herself the neck that became known as ‘Elizabeth’s Neck,’ Tod’s Point, and now today, Greenwich Point.”
LeBien then recognized their descendants, as well as the descendants of other families who arrived in Greenwich between 1656 and 1730.
Five Greenwich students who embody good citizenship were recognized at the ceremony. Chosen by their schools to receive Good Citizen Awards included Michael Bocchino (Greenwich High School), Leo Corsano-Leopizzi (Greenwich Country Day School), Isabella Leao (Sacred Heart), John Riehl (Brunswick School), and Zoe Tulchinsky (Greenwich Academy).
The descendants of American Revolutionary War patriots and all veterans were asked to stand. Then, the names of Greenwich citizens who died during the American Revolutionary War were read aloud: Joseph Banks, Daniel Carter, Samuel Close, Daniel Darrow, Thomas Hitchcock Sr, Nathaniel Jessup, Samuel Knapp, Stephan Knapp, Timothy Lockwood Jr, Ebson Mead, Solomon Mead, Sylvanus Mead, Zabid Palmer, Benjamin Reynolds, Jonathan Reynolds, and John Rundle.
After a moment of silence there was a 21-gun salute by the Greenwich Police Dept Honor Guard.
Throughout the ceremony, the Sound Beach Community Band provided live music and Christina Kampler sang several patriotic songs including “The Star Spangled Banner,” “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” and “God Bless America.”
“Our hearts rightly fill with pride and gratitude for the birth of a nation that has withstood the test of time, said, Master of Ceremonies, Ed Dadakis, who added that 247 years ago, Greenwich’s founding fathers dared to dream of a land where freedom, liberty, and justice would reign supreme. “They forged a path toward independence, pledging their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to create a nation unlike any other.”
“Today we honor their extraordinary vision, their bravery, and their unwavering belief in the power of self-governance,” Dadakis added. “So, as you go from here to your barbecues, softball games, or to the beach, take a few minutes to remember and thank the 57 men who had the foresight to sign the Declaration of Independence.”