Greenwich Post
Greenwich Fourth of July festivities began with a salute
Jun 5, 2007

EXPANDED STORY

U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Joseph Panarese stands at attention during the Salute to the Veterans ceremony. %u2014 David Ames photo

A new record crowd was on hand last Saturday as Greenwich residents young and old joined the Veterans Appreciation Council (VAC) to tell this country’s veterans “thank you and welcome home” at the 16th annual Salute to Veterans.

James Carrier, co-founder of the VAC, estimated there were 6,000 people in attendance, packing Havemeyer Field and surpassing the record set last year. The crowd was treated to a demonstration of Navy SEAL combat fighting skills and a perfectly cued flyover from two fighter jets as the last note of the national anthem was played by Greenwich High School rising senior Andrew Johnson on his saxophone.

Mr. Carrier, who is chief organizer of the event, has worked hard to insure the event is non-partisan with no political agenda other than thanking men and women who have served in the armed forces.

“We are surrounded by anonymous heroes who have quietly served our country and in some cases have been wounded in action,” Mr. Carrier told the crowd before introducing a Navy SEAL, identified only as Mike, whom he had met at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Mike was shot 21 times by enemy fire in Iraq but is now well enough to attend the event and get a standing ovation from the crowd.

With perfect weather making it an ideal day, many local families came out for a rather patriotic Saturday in Greenwich. Not only was attendance high at the salute, but the town’s two fireworks displays in Old Greenwich that night also attracted big numbers.

And while these families were looking at a fun day in the sun for them and their children, they also noted the seriousness of the salute and how important it was to remember the sacrifices of all veterans.

Tom and Mina Bibeault brought their children Julia and Timmy to the salute. Mrs. Bibeault said the patriotism of the event was very important to them as they marked the fourth of July weekend.

“The kids need to know about the freedom we have and why we have it,” Mr. Bibeault said.

“It’s so important for the kids to see,” said Carl Griffasi, who attended with his friend Ivana Catalano and their respective children. “They’re at an age where they’re establishing an understanding about all of this. They have to be able to see the importance.”

The attendance was meaningful to the veterans. Veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and the current war in Iraq were all at the event and said it meant a lot to them to see the support from the people.

“The people who are here today are the ones who support our troops, support our causes and support our veterans,” Tony Cossu, a World War II Navy veteran marching with the American Legion Post 29, said. “When someone says thank you to me sometimes I don’t even know how to respond. It’s nice to hear.”

Frank Novak, a former Army private first class and a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, said he often has people coming up to him and thanking him for his service because his license plate says he’s a veteran. He said he always appreciated hearing that and said the salute was wonderful because it was for the veterans.

The thank you was particularly appreciated by Greenwich resident Maj. Jonathan Cameron, currently serving in the Army. He said he was impacted by seeing all his fellow veterans from prior wars. He attended the salute with his father Seaman Wilfred Cameron, a Navy veteran during the Cold War.

“It feels to me like my service is a part of a legacy of service in this town,” Maj. Cameron said. “It feels really good to be a part of that. When you’re deployed and away from your family it’s great to be able to think about how much your community supports you.”

Seaman Cameron said this was his second time at the event and last year was “a real boost to me.”

“For many years the services were not as accepted or appreciated,” Seaman Cameron said. “This is a real vindication of the men serving.”

The Navy SEALs were once again one of the most popular parts of the salute and the group of seals included a local hero. Steve Osler a special operator second class with the SEALs and an Old Greenwich resident, said was quickly surrounded after the display by people wanting to shake his hand and get a picture from him. He said the reaction from the crowd was amazing and made even more special because his family was there with him.

“I love all the support and it’s so great to see everyone coming out not only to support the military but Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom,” Special Operator Osler said. “It’s great being able to see all these people. I wish every town was like this.”

A SEAL recruiting station was set up and Lt. David Luckett, a public affairs officer with the Navy, said recruitment was one of the Navy’s top priorities because SEALs were in such high demand. He said events like the Salute to Veterans were very important because it allowed the SEALs to get out into the community and meet with anyone who had questions.

“We want to be able to recognize the veterans who came before us too,” Lt. Luckett said. “They made it possible for us to go out and fight for our country.”

Bill White, a noted veteran’s activist, was the event’s featured speaker and thanked the crowd from taking time from enjoying their weekends to come out and salute the troops. Mr. White said it was important for there “not to be any more Vietnams” where soldiers returned home from war and weren’t “thanked, hugged, loved, respected and given the utmost gratitude by our nation.”

Kathleen Polleck and Mary Frattaroli watch the unfurling of a 150-foot flag during Saturday morning's Salute to the Veterans program at Havemeyer Field. %u2014 David Ames photo

As president of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, Mr. White has been a driving force behind the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund raising more than $100 million, including $42 million over the last nine months, to benefit the families of  military members killed in action and establish the Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas, which serves as state of the art rehabilitation center for military members who suffer catastrophic wounds in the line of duty.

Mr. White said it was a great honor to be able to speak at the event and praised Greenwich for all it did to honor veterans. He said events like the salute fit perfectly with the Intrepid’s mission to “honor, educate and inspire.”

“Greenwich is probably one of the most patriotic towns in the country,” Mr. White told the Post. “Events like these symbolize a real commitment to helping and honoring the troops. There’s so much more you can do to support the troops than put a bumper sticker on your car and when you tell the people of Greenwich what they can do to help, they always rise up to the challenge. They realize that the freedom we enjoy in America isn’t free.”

As in past years all the veterans in attendance were invited to help unfurl a large American flag. Mr. Carrier estimated more than 1,000 veterans took part in holding the flag and said it was always moving to see. He said the event was a success just because of the turnout.

“Seeing all those people out there is so gratifying,” Mr. Carrier told the Post on Monday. “When you look out into the crowd and see record numbers, it makes me so proud. It’s just great to see that people care and that the number is growing every year.”