For veterans: Town signs on to nationwide effort

Written by Ken Borsuk, Staff Reporter
Wednesday, 21 October 2009 23:00

With the town’s blessing, a group of Greenwich residents is striving to bring direct help to veterans and their families.

By a unanimous vote, the Board of Selectmen last week signed on to what is known as the Greenwich Community Covenant Respecting Military Service Personnel and their families. The covenant, which is part of a growing nationwide program, is being driven by town resident Bruce Winningham, who said he is counting on the town’s tradition of volunteerism to make this effort a success. The town’s involvement will be formally signed at a ceremony Sunday, Nov. 1, at 3 p.m. at the Cole Auditorium next to Greenwich Library. The ceremony will include representatives from the Army, Navy and the Marine Corps.

According to Mr. Winningham, the covenant will help build partnerships between concerned citizens, businesses, government and nonprofit agencies who are dedicated to the goal of supporting military families and helping returning servicemen and -women in need of assistance. Mr. Winningham told the board that even with all the government resources made available to servicemen and -women returning from combat and to their families during their deployments, needs are still not being met.

“What’s needed are volunteers,” Mr. Winningham told the board. “It’s never been framed quite this dramatically before. Right now the Army, the Navy and the Marine Corps are on television asking communities to sign these covenants.” So far 600 covenants have been signed by mayors, county executives and more than half of all the governors.

“This is a large event occurring,” Mr. Winningham said. “This isn’t just an isolated, quirky thing here in Greenwich. As a state, Connecticut is behind, and I think we can set an example.”

This is the first time that individuals are really allowed to help military families in an organized way, since access to returning vets has traditionally been restricted. But now Greenwich has the opportunity to work with organizations like the Connecticut National Guard as it dispenses care in areas ranging from counseling to child support to building wheelchair ramps.

“Whatever is needed in any of these families, there is one place where these decisions are made,” Mr. Winningham said. “The signing of this covenant opens a door between Greenwich and these folks who have these needs.”

But now that the door is open, Mr. Winningham said volunteers are needed not only to assist but also to build an infrastructure that has never existed before. The critical component is to “tie together” the volunteerism of the town so that when help is called for, there can be an organized, effective response.

To get involved, call 698-2258. For more information about the national program, call 321-939-2354; in Connecticut, call 800-858-2677.

At the Oct. 16 Board of Selectmen meeting, the mothers of two active duty military personnel from town spoke out in strong support of the covenant. Helen Louise Branom’s son is in Iraq in the Judge Advocate General Corps and she praised the federal government for reaching out to civilians who want to help.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us to lend a hand to those in need,” Ms. Branom said. “They sacrifice a lot so we can do what we can. Knowing our help is available to their families will give peace of mind to those stationed away from their loved ones.”

Stefanie Kies, whose son is about to be deployed in Iraq as an Army ranger, said she supported the program because it can bring the community closer to those serving in the military and their families.

“This is a chance to heal a lot of misunderstandings that took place during the 60s and 70s, and to bring ourselves back to the patriot citizen soldier sense where we take care of our people and our people take care of us,” Ms. Kies said. “That needs to be put back in balance and volunteer support is a definite compliment to the care being provided by professionals.”

Selectwoman Lin Lavery, who introduced the covenant as a resolution before the board, praised the organizers for their compassion and said it is “perfect” for Greenwich because of how eagerly our residents volunteer for worthy causes. She pointed to the endorsements nationwide for the program, including by the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States military.

“This is something we should clearly do,” Ms. Lavery said.

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