By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
Santa and Mrs. Claus accompanied Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and a group of Vietnam veterans to light the Christmas tree on the Green at the city’s annual holiday kickoff Nov. 25.
After arriving in the West Haven Fire Department’s 1935 Mack pump firetruck, Santa and Mrs. Claus were escorted to a portable stage on the Main Street side of the Green by the West Haven Seahawks cheerleading team to the sound of applause and shouts of glee from hundreds of bundled-up merrymakers.
Before the lighting, WOW Radio personality Brian Smith, the master of ceremonies, thanked and praised Rossi’s special guests — members of West Haven Vietnam Veterans and Surfside Veterans — as the all-ages crowd clapped and cheered.
Rossi then gave a shoutout to then-Mayor-elect Dorinda Borer, whose inauguration was Sunday, and helped Smith lead revelers in a countdown to set the tree — and the Green — aglow.
The guests recognized onstage were West Haven Vietnam Veterans President Dave Ricci, Vice President Al Beck Sr., Treasurer Steve Carney, and members Howie Chernikoff, Rick Foley, Mark Levine, Kevin Sullivan and Howie Thomas.
Also recognized were Surfside Veterans President Rich Deso, who is also West Haven’s municipal veterans representative, and members Robert Chapin, Doug Daniels, Conrad Martin, chaplain Ken Smith and Al Terr.
The lighting marked the “50th Anniversary of Freedom.”
In 1973, President Richard Nixon held a White House reception for U.S. prisoners of war from Vietnam. On May 24, the Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California, observed the homecoming’s golden anniversary — 50 years to the day of the then-president hosting the largest dinner in White House history in honor of the 591 POWs released by the North Vietnamese.
To celebrate the anniversary locally, the city and West Haven Vietnam Veterans are sponsoring a City Hall poster series, “A Learning Experience,” to recognize the unwavering courage and selfless sacrifice of the approximately 766 American service members held captive during the Vietnam War, Ricci said.
The 19-month series, which began in September in City Hall’s first-floor entryway, will also chronicle nearly every aspect of the war, Sullivan said.
The four-hour festival opened with the national anthem sung by Associate Pastor David Thomas of Kingdom Life Christian Church and followed with performances by Top Hat Dance Academy, the West Haven High School dance team and the Mulkerin School of Irish Dance. Top Hat was directed by Sharon Minnix, the dance team by Lizz Petrakis and Mulkerin by Kathy Carew.
It featured performances by West Haven’s own Judy Pancoast, a Grammy-nominated recording artist. Pancoast treated the crowd to a songbook of holiday nuggets, including her popular original, “The House on Christmas Street.”
The annual event was presented by the city, ArtsWestCT, the First Congregational Church and West Haven United, an organization aimed at bringing the city’s volunteer groups together.
The sponsors were Affordable Waste Systems LLC, All Purpose Contractors LLC, Baybrook Remodelers Inc., Cordone & Son, EarthLoop LLC, Frankson Fence Co., Herrington & Sons Tree Specialists LLC and Winkle Bus Co.
DJ Dan played holiday-themed music while costumed Christmas characters and Victorian-clad carolers entertained families around the downtown park.
The Yuletide festivities included an inflatable Santa’s village and craft stations on the 5-acre Green, where children decorated wooden ornaments, wrote letters to Santa, and made cards for U.S. troops overseas and those at the West Haven VA Medical Center.
The Christmas tree was adorned with fluorescent-colored lights and ornaments and was decorated by West Haven Boy Scout Troop 821, the first all-girl Boy Scouts of America troop established in the United States. The troop’s charter sponsor is the City of West Haven Fire Department Allingtown.
Garland adorned with white lights decorated The John C. Ireland Bandstand, and Victorian lampposts bedecked with angels blowing on trumpets illuminated the walkways.
The decorated park also included inflatable attractions that youngsters went in and had pictures taken.
Before their long sleigh ride back to the North Pole, Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted children and posed for snapshots.
Just steps from Santa’s workshop, boys and girls dropped off wish lists at St. Nick’s official U.S. Postal Service mailbox.
West Haven United stamped children’s holiday “passports.”
Along with hayrides, kids rode in a vintage West Shore firetruck provided by Baybrook Remodelers.
People brought nonperishable items for the West Haven Emergency Assistance Task Force, which provides food for residents in need.
Volunteers from First Church sold chicken tenders and hot dogs, and volunteers from West Haven United sold hot chocolate and popcorn. The Kettle King sold kettle corn.
Allingtown Christmas
