Submitted by Sam Rosenfeld, Greenwich
Greenwich has a long and proud tradition of honoring those who have served our country. From the Civil War to Vietnam, our town has commemorated the lives of residents who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of American ideals. The collection of memorials in front of the Havemeyer Building and the old Post Office stands as a quiet but powerful tribute to those men and women. That is why I am writing to respectfully ask that we reconsider the proposed location for the new statue of President George H.W. Bush.
Photo: Aakash Patel
There is no doubt that President Bush led a life of extraordinary public service. He was a decorated Navy pilot in World War II, a Congressman, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Director of the CIA, Vice President, and ultimately, our 41st President. His ties to Greenwich are real, and his legacy is worthy of lasting recognition here. A statue honoring him is appropriate, overdue, and deserved.
But placing that statue directly in the center of four monuments dedicated to Greenwich residents who died in combat risks diluting the quiet dignity and singular purpose of those existing memorials.
Photo: Aakash Patel
As currently proposed, the Bush statue would stand in the middle of the four war memorials outside the Havemeyer Building—monuments that honor our fallen from the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. These are not just historical markers; they are sacred ground to many families in our town. They represent lives cut short and futures sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today.
I come to this issue not just as a resident of Greenwich, but as the son of a Vietnam-era serviceman and the grandson of a World War II Army Air Forces veteran. Like many in our community, I grew up with a deep reverence for those who served, especially those who never came home. I believe that Greenwich, through these memorials, expresses a clear and solemn message: we remember our own, and we honor their sacrifice.
By placing a presidential statue—no matter how well-intentioned—into the center of this site, we risk turning a space of remembrance into one of divided focus. The story of President Bush, remarkable as it is, is not the same story told by the monuments that surround this space. Those four memorials speak with one voice: Greenwich remembers and honors its fallen. Introducing a new narrative into the center of that message, no matter how distinguished, risks overshadowing it.
This is not a call to diminish President Bush’s legacy. Quite the opposite—I believe we should celebrate his life in a location that allows that story to stand fully on its own. A statue of this stature deserves a prominent, thoughtful location—perhaps near Town Hall, Bruce Park, or another visible public space where his many accomplishments can be appreciated in their full context. Done right, this statue can inspire future generations to public service and remind us of the enduring values President Bush embodied: humility, courage, decency, and duty.
Our town has space in abundance for meaningful memorials. What we must be careful with is meaning itself. The placement of a monument is never just about convenience or visibility—it is about intention. Let’s be intentional about how we honor both our local heroes and our national ones. They are not in competition, but we owe it to each to give their stories the space they deserve.
Photo: Aakash Patel
Photo: Aakash Patel
I hope our community will come together in support of both goals: honoring the extraordinary life of George H.W. Bush, and preserving the solemn unity of the war memorials at the Havemeyer site.
Let us respect the memory of the fallen and ensure that their voices are not unintentionally diminished, even as we recognize another American who served his country with distinction.
Respectfully,
Sam Rosenfeld
RTM, District 1
Greenwich, CT