By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
The city and the West Haven Veterans Council will hold a Veterans Day tribute at 10:45 a.m. Monday on the Veterans Walk of Honor in Bradley Point Park.
All veterans are invited to participate in the annual ceremony, which will feature remarks from Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and Veterans Council President Dave Ricci.
Rossi’s executive assistant, Lou Esposito, will serve as the master of ceremonies.
The event will begin with a presentation of the colors by the West Haven Police Color Guard and a flag-raising by the West Haven Fire Department Honor Guard. It will follow with the national anthem and “God Bless America” by West Haven High School junior Nora E. Mullins and opening and closing prayers by Sean P. Ronan, senior vice commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9422.
The tribute will also include a bell-ringing at 11 a.m. and taps played by retired 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 13th phase of its popular Brick Campaign.
In November 2006, the council began the first of 13 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.
More than 2,700 bricks have been installed so far, including 51 for the 12th phase, which was dedicated May 25.
Applications, due March 16, are available at https://www.cityofwesthaven.com/DocumentCenter/View/2129/Veterans-Brick-Campaign-Application-2020-PDF and in the mayor’s office at City Hall, 355 Main St. For details, call (203) 937-3510.