Keynote Calls For a More ‘United United States’ During Veterans Day Ceremony at God’s Acre

When Col. (ret.) Greg Conti was a cadet at West Point, he was told that the sprawling military academy overlooking the Hudson River was “a major tourist attraction,

ranking only after New York City and Niagara Falls, in New York State.”

“Thousands would come out to see the parades, watch football games and tour the grounds,” said Col. Conti, who was the keynote speaker during a well-attended Veterans Day ceremony held Saturday at the Wayside Cross at the bottom of God’s Acre.

“Marching in a West Point parade is an interesting experience,” Col. Conti recalled. “You are standing inside a unit formation totaling about 4,000 people, and you stare out at – in the Cadet slang of the time – the GAP, or the Great American Public.”

“At the start, I’ll admit, I didn’t appreciate the importance of such parades,” said the 27-year U.S. Army Veteran from the Hudson Valley in New York, bringing a little levity to the sombre occasion. “Parade practice – and the parades themselves – aren’t the most pleasant activities.”

So dreaded were these practices, he said with a smile, that the cadets would sometimes chant to “Odin, the Viking God, in formation before parade practice, asking for rain to come and cancel the practice.”

“Sometimes it worked,” he said, bringing chuckles from the dozens of residents, town officials, emergency personnel and other veterans who gathered for the event.

“Lastly however, I realized that these events help the American public appreciate the military that served on their behalf and, importantly, for the military to appreciate the people they served and the way of life they protected,” he continued. “Veterans Day is another such tradition for veterans and the public. It caused me to reflect on the importance of the military and the importance of America’s people and way of life.”

The annual event is presented by New Canaan’s VFW Post 653, officially known as Howard M. Bossa and Peter C. Langenus Post 653 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

This year’s ceremony, held under mostly sunny skies, featured other speakers including VFW Post 653 Commander Mike McGlinn; VFW Chaplain Brian Van der Heyden; Vice Regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution and First Selectman-Elect Dionna Carlson; and First Selectman Kevin Moynihan.

The ceremony also included the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence, a placing of memorial wreaths by the Daughters of the American Revolution, a recitation of the poem “In Flanders Fields;” the playing of “Taps” by New Canaan High School students Lylah Spring and Charlotte Hanover; and a Presenting of the Colors by the New Canaan Police Department Color Guard.

In his remarks, Col. Conti, who served in a variety of military intelligence and cyberspace operations assignments, including combat duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Persian Gulf War, said while “America’s Democracy, and its way of life, is the envy of the world… our Democracy isn’t guaranteed to last forever – we must cherish, maintain and protect it.”

Col. Conti said given the current conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine – and how those are dividing people here at home – and the possibility of China invading Taiwan, now is the time for Americans to focus on staying united. But there are external forces, the cybersecurity specialist said, that seek to divide us – and the internet, he said, plays a role in that.

“You often hear the phrase ‘Cyber Pearl Harbor,’” he said. “A Pearl Harbor, cyber or otherwise, isn’t what keeps me up night. What keeps me up is the ‘Death of a Thousand Cuts.’”

“Our adversaries know not to engage a United States on the battlefield,” he said. “Because of this, our adversaries seek to create a divided America.”

“America is composed of many different people,” he continued. “Our adversaries work around our robust traditional defenses in an attempt to reach the hearts and minds of its people.”

He said while the internet has ushered in many great technological advances that have improved the quality of life, it has also, at the same time, caused us to “lose touch with what is real and what isn’t.”

“Is that a real picture of a person doing some given act or is it an AI generated image?” He asked rhetorically. “Is the news about a great white shark in a flooded freeway in Houston during a hurricane real or fake?”

“We are living in an attention economy with networked computers in our pockets constantly vying for our attention,” he said. “Our adversaries exploit this ubiquitous information space, beating divisive topics into our psyches.”

In response to this, Col. Conti urged Americans to “rise to the occasion.”

“As individuals, we cannot boil the ocean or fix the world, but we can do our part,” he said. “It starts by respecting and valuing those in our community and helping those in need. Relishing each precious moment of our freedom and our prosperity. Looking for ways to unite rather than divide.”

He also urged Americans to apply “critical thinking to the information we receive online – triangulating between different news sources in an attempt to glean the truth.”

“America is known as a melting pot, the place where people for the past 247 years have come for a chance to achieve their dreams,” he said. “That melting pot forges an alloy that is greater than all the parts when Americans come together, united behind a common cause.”

“So on this Veterans Day, let’s work toward a united United States, not a divided one. Let’s honor our veterans. Let’s cherish our communities and our way of life. Let’s honor all those that keep those communities safe and vibrant places to live.”

Deonna Carlson, vice regent of DAR, noted that DAR is commemorating several major milestone dates during the three year period from 2022-2025.

“We have the privilege of commemorating several significant events that hold great historical significance,” Carlson said. “First, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War – a conflict that profoundly impacted our nation and the lives of countless individuals. We remember and honor the sacrifices out Vietnam Veterans, who served with unwavering dedication.

“Additionally, next year we commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, a pivotal moment in World War II that marked the beginning of the end of tyranny in Europe,” Carlson said. “The bravery and heroism displayed by our soldiers on that fateful day will forever be etched in our hearts and minds. We also recognize the 125th Anniversary of the Spanish-American War, a conflict that showcased the strength and resilience of our armed forces – it is through the valor of our veterans that we continue to enjoy the freedoms we hold dear. Finally, we celebrate 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Navy – an institution that has safeguarded our nation’s interests and protected our shores since its inception. The dedication and sacrifice of our Naval veterans has played a vital role in shaping our nation’s history.”

“Today, as we gather to honor our veterans, let us remember that their service extends far beyond the battlefield,” Carlson said. “They have defended our freedoms, protected our values, and ensured the safety and security of our nation. It is our duty to acknowledge their sacrifice and express our gratitude. Never let us forget the men and women who have served in our armed forces – their commitment to our freedoms is unparalleled and it is our responsibility to ensure that their sacrifices are never in vain.”

This year’s Veterans Day marked the 105th Anniversary of the End of the War to End All Wars.