Riverside School Honors Veterans Past And Present

Greenwich CT

12 November, 2021

6:29 PM

Description

GREENWICH, CT — Although this year's Veterans Day ceremony had a different look, the school community was still able to honor all those who have served in the armed forces. The ceremony has been a tradition for the past 21 years. Because of the pandemic, a scaled-down outdoor, socially-distanced event was held on the school's front lawn. Fourth and fifth grade classes participated, along with volunteers, school staff and local veterans. Students in grades K-3 who were not able to participate in the ceremony watched a recording of the event, and participated in honoring veterans on Thursday. Guests Tuesday included Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo, Greenwich Police Chief James Heavey, and Peter LeBeau, a veteran and Commander of the American Legion Post 29 in town. Riverside School Principal Christopher Weiss led the event which featured the traditional raising of the flag, laying of the wreath and participation in the Pledge of Allegiance. "The Veterans Day Ceremony is a longstanding tradition at Riverside School where the community comes together to recognize veterans and the critical contributions they have made to our country," Weiss said in a news release. "It was important to still hold the ceremony in a responsible way, despite the limitations the pandemic has presented. Today's events allowed us to recognize and celebrate veterans in a meaningful manner consistent with past celebrations we have held." The ceremony began at 1 p.m. with the raising of the flag. After, Camillo spoke to the audience. "I was honored to participate in Riverside School's Veterans Day Ceremony," Camillo said afterwards in a news release. "It was a wonderful opportunity to teach students the most valuable lesson they can learn: to simply thank a veteran, today and every day of the year." At the end of the ceremony, Riverside School alumni veterans who died in foreign wars were recognized. There names are: Phillip Edward George Jr., Henry Bradbury Johnson, and Clarence Brodie Keith, veterans of World War II; Thomas Budd Kean, Nevell Brackett Safford, and Louis Francis Zaccardo, veterans of the Korean War; and Richard Horsfall, veteran of the Vietnam War. On Thursday, the town held a patriotic walk and parade in downtown Greenwich to honor veterans.