By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
A legion of veterans and their families from across Connecticut, joined by city and state leaders and members of West Haven’s Veterans Council and three fire departments, turned out late Saturday afternoon to help dedicate 47 bricks as part of Phase 16 of the Veterans Walk of Honor in Bradley Point Park.
The patriotic crowd, many wearing red, white and blue, gathered along the Walk of Honor on Long Island Sound as Mayor Dorinda Borer delivered poignant remarks dedicating the new bricks.
“I know you agree with me when I say it feels really good to stand under that American flag,” said Borer, speaking in front of a black granite memorial in commemoration of World War II Army Pfc. William A. Soderman. “And we do so because of all of you, all of our veterans here — and all that we’re honoring here tonight. You’ve made this possible for us.”
The mayor continued: “I’m deeply humbled by the presence of so many veterans and their families who have come to these hallowed grounds from all corners of Connecticut and beyond to participate in the solemn dedication of Phase 16 of the Veterans Walk of Honor.
“Thank you all for your service — our Army, our Navy, our Air Force, our Marines, our Coast Guard. Thanks to each and every one of you.”
Borer then gave a shoutout to retired city Human Resources Commissioner Beth A. Sabo, who is now a volunteer in the mayor’s office.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Beth Sabo for overseeing the construction of all phases of the Walk of Honor since its dedication in May of 2007,” Borer said.
Rick Spreyer, the mayor’s chief of staff, served as the master of ceremonies.
The seaside ceremony also featured remarks by Veterans Council President Dave Ricci, a Marine Corps vet who served in the Vietnam War. Ricci is also the president of West Haven Vietnam Veterans Inc.
“Today is a day of remembrance for all the military personnel that never made it home,” said Ricci, before asking those in attendance to raise their hands if they had served in the armed forces, including the Coast Guard and the Merchant Marine.
He closed his remarks with words of thanks: “If you have food, thank a farmer. If you have food on your table, thank a trucker. If you can eat in peace, thank a veteran.”
The 25-minute program commenced with a procession of local and state officials and West Haven fire chiefs and officers and followed with a flag-raising by the West Haven Fire Department Honor Guard, composed of members of the West Haven Fire Department, the West Shore Fire Department and the City of West Haven Fire Department Allingtown.
Among the dignitaries were West Haven Democratic Rep. Bill Heffernan, 10th District Republican Councilman Steven J. Johnstone, Secretary Herbert Hill of West Haven’s Board of Fire Commissioners, Chairman Robert Bruneau of West Shore’s Board of Fire Commissioners, Commissioner Frederick Brown of Allingtown’s Board of Fire Commissioners and West Haven Municipal Veterans Rep. Rich Deso, the president of Surfside Veterans.
The event included the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by West Haven’s own Grace Kelly Nowak, a prayer by Vertical Church Outreach Pastor Paul Bronson and the singing of “God Bless America,” also by Nowak.
The program concluded with a wreath-laying at the base of the William A. Soderman Memorial by West Haven Vietnam Veterans members Rick Foley and Mark Levine, followed by taps played by retired West Shore Lt. Kevin McKeon.
After the ceremony, families lined the Walk of Honor to search for bricks they purchased in honor of loved ones, both living and deceased. Each $75 brick has a personalized message engraved in charcoal lettering.
In November 2006, the Veterans Council began the first of 16 campaigns selling bricks to memorialize vets on the 100-yard walkway between the Soderman and Vietnam Veterans memorials.
About 3,000 bricks have been installed to date, including 51 for Phase 15, which was dedicated May 27, 2023.
Phase 1 of the Walk of Honor was dedicated in May 2007, along with a memorial to Korean War veterans.
In May 2008, Phase 2 of the walkway and the Soderman memorial were dedicated.
Soderman received the Medal of Honor after he distinguished himself in December 1944 while defending an important road junction near Rocherath, Belgium.
On July 1, 1984, Bradley Point Park’s flagpole was dedicated in memory of Soderman, who died in 1980.
Also in 2008, 14 grave markers signifying every war in U.S. history and peacetime were dedicated. The markers are mounted on granite posts.
In addition to overseeing the construction of all phases of the walkway, which was built by City Point Construction Co. of West Haven, Sabo supervised the design and placement of the granite Korean War and Soderman memorials, which were made by Shelley Bros. Monuments of Guilford.
In May 2015, the dedication of Phase 8 included the dedication of a granite stone in memory of Veterans Council President Lorelee “Lori” Grenfell, who died in 2015 at age 60. The memorial was crafted by Giordano Bros. Monuments of West Haven.