Veterans Day Observed, 17th Phase Of Brick Campaign Launched In West Haven

Written by Michael P. Walsh

WEST HAVEN, CT — An array of veterans and their families, together with city and state leaders and members of West Haven’s Veterans Council and Surfside Veterans, gathered on the Veterans Walk of Honor to pay reverence to Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 11.

Mayor Dorinda Borer, standing on the Walk of Honor in the heart of Bradley Point Park, delivered poignant remarks to the patriotic crowd of mostly veterans, many wearing black baseball caps referencing their military assignments in gold lettering.

“The American tapestry is woven with the stories of patriots who have answered our country’s call, and we are grateful for their service and their immeasurable contributions to protecting and defending the red, white and blue,” said Borer, speaking in front of a black granite memorial in commemoration of Army Pfc. William A. Soderman, who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.

“On Veterans Day, we honor these venerable heroes by rededicating ourselves to fulfilling our responsibility to serve them as well as they have served us,” said the mayor, who proudly noted that the city is home to the West Haven VA Medical Center and the West Haven Veterans Museum.

Rick Spreyer, Borer’s chief of staff, served as the master of ceremonies.

The seaside ceremony featured “a little history of World War I” by West Haven Vietnam Veterans member Mark Levine on behalf of President Dave Ricci, who was unable to attend. Levine is an Army vet of the Vietnam War and was the grand marshal of the city’s 2023 Memorial Day parade.

The ceremony also included remarks by West Haven Municipal Veterans Rep. Rich Deso, who read “Swaying in the Breeze,” a poem written by his partner, city resident Nancy Herbert Denman. Deso, a Navy vet, served aboard the submarine USS Groton in the Mediterranean Sea during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. He is the president of Surfside Veterans.

The 25-minute program commenced with a procession of local and state officials and West Haven first responders led by the West Haven Police Honor Guard 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.

The procession consisted of West Haven police chiefs and officers and West Haven fire chiefs, officers and firefighters. It also included West Haven Democratic Rep. Bill Heffernan, 4th District Councilman Gary Donovan and Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana, along with Chairman Robert Bruneau and Commissioner Al Lepper of West Shore’s Board of Fire Commissioners and Commissioner Frederick Brown of Allingtown’s Board of Fire Commissioners.

The program included the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by West Haven High School senior Zoe Powell, the invocation by Vertical Church Outreach Pastor Paul Bronson and the benediction by West Haven Fire Department chaplain Victor M. Borras, as well as the singing of “God Bless America,” also by Powell.

Firefighter Jake Gannon then rang the West Haven Fire Department’s chrome bell 11 times at 11 a.m. in observance of Veterans Day. Residents, including former Mayor Edward M. O’Brien and West Haven High students, bowed their heads as Gannon tolled the bell.

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.

The event concluded with a wreath-laying at the base of the William A. Soderman Memorial by West Haven Vietnam Veterans Vice President Al Beck Sr. and member Howie Thomas, followed by taps played by Julian Montiel of the West Haven High School Band.

To coincide with the solemn ceremony, the Veterans Council launched the 17th phase of its popular Brick Campaign.

In November 2006, the council began the first of 17 campaigns selling bricks to memorialize veterans on the 100-yard Walk of Honor between the Soderman and Vietnam Veterans memorials.

The bricks, which cost $75, have charcoal lettering for personalized messages.

About 3,000 bricks have been installed to date, including 47 for Phase 16, which was dedicated May 25.

Download a brick application here.

Applications, due Friday, March 14, 2025, are also available in the mayor’s office at City Hall, 355 Main St. For details, call 203-937-3510.

Firefighter Jake Gannon rings the West Haven Fire Department’s chrome bell 11 times at 11 a.m. in observance of Veterans Day in West Haven’s Bradley Point Park on Monday, Nov. 11, as master of ceremonies Rick Spreyer bows his head and West Haven police and fire officials stand at attention. 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. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer delivers poignant remarks honoring the city’s soldiers, sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and airmen as West Haven fire chiefs, officers and firefighters stand at attention. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

The West Haven Police Honor Guard leads the opening procession of city and state dignitaries, West Haven police chiefs and officers, and West Haven fire chiefs, officers and firefighters. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

The West Haven Fire Department Honor Guard, composed of members of the West Haven, West Shore and City of West Haven Allingtown fire departments, leads West Haven Democratic state Rep. Bill Heffernan and Mayor Dorinda Borer while carrying the American flag to the William A. Soderman Memorial Flagpole for the ceremonial raising. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven High School senior Zoe Powell sings “The Star-Spangled Banner” as Mayor Dorinda Borer puts her right hand over her heart. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Vertical Church Outreach Pastor Paul Bronson gives the invocation. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven Vietnam Veterans member Mark Levine gives “a little history of World War I” on behalf of President Dave Ricci, who was unable to attend the ceremony. Levine is an Army vet of the Vietnam War and was the grand marshal of the city’s 2023 Memorial Day parade. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven Municipal Veterans Rep. Rich Deso reads “Swaying in the Breeze,” a poem written by his partner, city resident Nancy Herbert Denman. Deso, a Navy vet, served aboard the submarine USS Groton in the Mediterranean Sea during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. He is the president of Surfside Veterans. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven Vietnam Veterans member Howie Thomas, left, and Vice President Al Beck Sr. salute after laying a wreath at the base of the William A. Soderman Memorial. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven police chiefs and officers and West Haven fire chiefs, officers and firefighters bow their heads. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven Fire Department chaplain Victor M. Borras gives the benediction. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Julian Montiel of the West Haven High School Band plays taps as West Haven Fire Department chaplain Victor M. Borras salutes and the West Haven Police Honor Guard presents the colors. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

This press release was produced by the City of West Haven. The views expressed here are the author’s own.