The revival of Veterans Park
On Tuesday, Dec. 3, the Stamford Board of Representatives honored the Stamford Veterans Park Partnership, Inc. (SVPP) and our collaboration committee for our efforts to renovate and revitalize Veterans Memorial Park as a destination point in the heart of downtown Stamford. We thank the Board of Representatives for this honor and also everyone who made our recent special events the outstanding success our veterans and their families deserve.
On Thursday, Nov. 7, nearly 200 gathered at 160 Atlantic St. adjacent to Veterans Memorial Park for the Stamford Veterans Park Partnership “SneakPeek” stroll through Phase I of this public treasure. The Veterans Memorial Park theme showcasing the five branches of service includes space for quiet reflection and amphitheater seating hundreds for public events and presentations. The park has an expansive plaza area with green space and walkways bordered by pavers with engraved messages for those who served in America’s countless efforts securing our freedom. Event attendees were taken by the pathway leading up the hill where the relocated granite monoliths and monuments honoring Stamford’s war veterans were placed. Some took time to sit on one of the benches to reflect, and others used the QR codes to learn more about Stamford’s rich history of service to our country. The evening culminated when Christopher Meek was presented with the SVPP Patriot Award for his profound leadership and distinguished service and support of veterans through his nonprofit organization, SoldierStrong. SoldierStrong (originally Soldier Socks) serves American patriots through educational scholarships and by harnessing the most innovative technology in advanced rehabilitation for both the visible and invisible wounds of war.
The celebration of veterans continued with a parade on Monday, Nov. 11, organized by Stamford’s Patriotic and Special Events Commission. The parade was led by a grand marshal, Cpl. James R. Santangelo, who was presented with a proclamation from the City of Stamford by Mayor David Martin. Our partnership was pleased to coordinate with the commission and the Veterans Council to honor our veterans. After the parade, several hundred gathered at the park where Capt. Alan Gerard, commanding officer of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, along with the cadets, lead us in acknowledging the anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year.
This day of remembrance and gratitude included remarks from Gov. Ned Lamont, U.S. Richard Blumenthal, DConn., U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, DConn., and Mayor David Martin. Joining these dignitaries and SVPP members to cut the ribbon on Phase I of the Veterans Memorial Park project were World War II representatives Fred Drenckhah, U.S. Army, Charlie Guinta, Army Signal Corp, and Herb Kohn, U.S. Army. What was once a dream for a few Stamford residents will be a stateoftheart park for all.
Patricia Parry, Gold Star Mother of Special Warfare Operator Chief (SEAL) Brian Bill, SVPP board member, and a driving force behind the park project, introduced Gold Star Mother Helen Kaiser Pedersen and Gold Star Sister Leslie Mansell as a prelude to the Gold Star Monument unveiling when Phase II of the project will be celebrated in May 2020. Pat’s son, Brian, was one of 30 American service members killed in action during a mission in the Wardak Province of Afghanistan on Aug. 6, 2011.
Phase III of the project will be the reconstruction of the Atlantic Street intersection to create a more pedestrian friendly environment linking the park with Old Town Hall.
There are hundreds of people to thank for helping make this project possible and for allowing SVPP to continue this private/public partnership through to completion and beyond. We appreciate the members of our collaboration committee and offer a special thank you to Reckson/SLGreen Associates, the Stamford Town Center, Old Town Square LLC, Downtown Special Services District, Future 5, the Stamford Police Department, and the City of Stamford for their support with these recent events.