“Honorable David N. Theis Memorial Bridge” to Become a Reality

Every year at the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend, a glorious display of American flags is erected on each side of the bridge over the Mianus River on Rt 1.

And, as the flags go up each May, cars and trucks toot their horns in approval. But not everyone might be aware that it was Greenwich Selectman Dave Theis who was the driving force behind the flag tradition on the bridge.

Each spring Mr. Theis, in collaboration with Cos Cob Volunteer Fire Company, would erect ten flags on each side of the bridge, where they served as a symbol of patriotism from Memorial day until Veterans day.  Whether fishing from beneath the bridge, or from a passing car, there is no bad view of the proud flags.

The project, which became a tradition, was coordinated each year by Mr. Theis and the Cos Cob Volunteer Fire Company. 

After Mr. Theis died suddenly in December 2014, the bridge and the annual flag display, took on added meaning. This spring, the flags came to symbolize Mr. Theis and his love of both Greenwich and his country. A movement grew to name the bridge in his honor.

State Rep. Fred Camillo R-151, led the effort to have the bridge renamed for his close friend. “Dave loved his town, his country, and the flag. It gave him great joy to lead the effort each year installing the American flags on the bridge he drove over every day, a bridge that will soon bear his name,” Camillo said. “It is  my hope that when future generations of Greenwich residents and visitors to our town drive over the bridge and see his name, they will know that he was a special person in this town, his town, once and forever.”

This week Connecticut Gov. Malloy signed a bill allowing for memorial name changes to bridges and sections of highway, including the Route 1 Mianus River Bridge between the Cos Cob and Riverside sections of Greenwich the “Honorable David N. Theis Memorial Bridge.”

mianus bridge over rte 1

Each year in time for Memorial Day, Dave Theis saw to it that ten flags were erected on each side of the Mianus Bridge over Rte 1. Now the bridge will be named in his honor. Credit: Leslie Yager

Mianus Bridge over Rt 1

Each year in time for Memorial Day, Dave Theis saw to it that ten flags were erected on each side of the Mianus Bridge over Rte 1. Now the bridge will be named in his honor. Credit: Leslie Yager