By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
The city and the West Haven Veterans Council will hold a Veterans Day tribute on the Veterans Walk of Honor in Bradley Point Park at 10:45 a.m. today.
All veterans are invited to participate in the annual ceremony, which will feature remarks by Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and Veterans Council President Dave Ricci.
The public is also invited.
Louis P. Esposito Jr., Rossi’s executive assistant, will serve as the master of ceremonies.
The event will commence with a presentation of the colors by the West Haven Police Honor Guard and a flag-raising by the West Haven Fire Department Honor Guard.
It will include the national anthem and “God Bless America” sung by Liz Levy and opening and closing prayers given by Victor M. Borras of Gateway Christian Fellowship.
The tribute will also include a bell-ringing at 11 a.m. and taps played by former West Shore Fire Department Lt. Kevin McKeon.
Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is celebrated on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, marking the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I in 1918.
To coincide with the solemn ceremony, the Veterans Council will officially launch the 14th phase of its popular Brick Campaign.
In November 2006, the council began the first of 14 campaigns selling bricks to memorialize veterans on the 100-yard Walk of Honor between the William A. Soderman and Vietnam Veterans memorials.
The bricks, which cost $75, have charcoal lettering for personalized messages.
About 2,850 bricks have been installed so far, including 130 for the 13th phase, which was dedicated June 5.
Applications, due March 18, 2022, are available at https://www.cityofwesthaven.com/DocumentCenter/View/3962/Veterans-Brick-Campaign-Application-2022-PDF and in the mayor’s office at City Hall, 355 Main St. For details, call (203) 937-3510.