PHOTO — West Haven Vietnam Army veterans Mark Levine, left, and Al Beck Sr. lay a wreath at the base of the William A. Soderman Memorial in Bradley Point Park during the city’s Phase 15 dedication of the brick Veterans Walk of Honor on Saturday, May 27. Levine is this year’s grand marshal of the West Haven Memorial Day parade, and Beck is the vice president of the West Haven Veterans Council. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

WEST HAVEN, May 27, 2023 — Dozens 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, came out late Saturday afternoon, May 27, to help dedicate 51 bricks as part of Phase 15 of the Veterans Walk of Honor.

The patriotic crowd, many wearing red, white and blue, gathered along the Walk of Honor in the heart of Bradley Point Park as Mayor Nancy R. Rossi delivered poignant remarks dedicating the new bricks.

“Thank you to the West Haven Veterans Council for continuing this tradition as well as city Human Resources Commissioner Beth A. Sabo for overseeing the construction each year (of the walkway’s bricks),” said Rossi, speaking in front of a black granite memorial in commemoration of World War II Army Pfc. William A. Soderman.

Rossi continued: “I hope that each of you are able to take a moment today spending time with each installment. I am deeply proud of West Haven’s commitment to its veterans and believe our Veterans Walk of Honor is truly exemplary. I would like to thank each veteran for their service, their courage and their commitment to our country.”

Public Works Commissioner Tom J. McCarthy served as the master of ceremonies.

The seaside ceremony also featured remarks by Veterans Council Treasurer Steve Carney, an Army vet who served in the Vietnam War, who read a poem written by Army Maj. Michael Davis O’Donnell on New Year’s Day 1970 at the Battle of Dak To in Vietnam.

The 20-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.

It included the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by West Haven High School sophomore Zoe Powell, a prayer by Vertical Church Pastor Paul Bronson and the singing of “God Bless America,” also by Powell.

The event concluded with a wreath-laying at the base of the William A. Soderman Memorial by Vietnam Army veterans Mark Levine and Al Beck Sr., followed by taps played by retired West Shore fire Lt. Kevin McKeon.

Levine is this year’s grand marshal of the Memorial Day parade, and Beck is the Veterans Council’s vice president.

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 15 campaigns selling bricks to memorialize vets on the 100-yard walkway between the Soderman and Vietnam Veterans memorials.

About 2,950 bricks have been installed to date, including 58 for Phase 14, which was dedicated June 4, 2022.

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 has 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.

— MICHAEL P. WALSH, Public Relations Information Coordinator

West Haven Vietnam Army veterans Mark Levine, left, and Al Beck Sr. lay a wreath at the base of the William A. Soderman Memorial in Bradley Point Park during the city’s Phase 15 dedication of the brick Veterans Walk of Honor on Saturday, May 27. Levine is this year’s grand marshal of the West Haven Memorial Day parade, and Beck is the vice president of the West Haven Veterans Council. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven Mayor Nancy R. Rossi delivers remarks dedicating the Walk of Honor’s 51 new bricks. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

People line the Walk of Honor to search for bricks they purchased in honor of loved ones, both living and deceased. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Members of the Lillis family pay their respects at the Walk of Honor brick they purchased for the late Robert R. Lillis Sr., a Navy veteran who served in 1956-59, including peacetime duty aboard the destroyer USS Jonas Ingram. From left, daughter Marie Pelaccia, widow Marie Lillis, daughter Maureen B. Lillis, son Robert R. Lillis Jr. and granddaughter Bridget Lillis. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

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, leads the procession of city and state dignitaries while carrying the American flag to the William A. Soderman Memorial Flagpole for the ceremonial raising. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Honor guard members salute while raising the Stars and Stripes. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven Public Works Commissioner Tom J. McCarthy, the master of ceremonies, delivers remarks recognizing Phase 15 of the Walk of Honor. Looking on are, from left, West Haven Councilman Gary Donovan, D-at large, City Clerk Patricia C. Horvath, Tax Collector Dorothy Chambrelli, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, Councilman Robert Bruneau, D-9, council Chairman Peter V. Massaro, D-6, and Councilman Victor M. Borras, D-8. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

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

West Haven Veterans Council Treasurer Steve Carney, a Vietnam Army vet, reads a poem written by Army Maj. Michael Davis O’Donnell on New Year’s Day 1970 at the Battle of Dak To in Vietnam. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven High School sophomore Zoe Powell sings “God Bless America.” Powell also sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.” (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Retired West Shore fire Lt. Kevin McKeon plays taps as his father, George McKeon, a Korean War Army veteran, puts his right hand over his heart. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven, West Shore and Allingtown fire chiefs, officers, firefighters and volunteers salute. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)