On a fine fall day at Roosevelt Center, on the 11th day of the 11th month at 11 a.m., the same day and time the Armistice ended World War I (also known as the Great War), Greenbelt celebrated the service of veterans since the American Revolution.
The event was sponsored by American Legion Post 136 and the City of Greenbelt in honor of “those who have placed their love of God and country, their devotion to liberty and freedom, above even life itself,” as Legion Post Commander Greg Gigliotti said.
Guests Maryland State Senator Alonzo Washington, Delegate Anne Healey and U.S. Representative Glenn Ivey were introduced.
Greenbelt Mayor Emmett Jordan introduced Greenbelt City Councilmembers and city employees in attendance and presented a proclamation to Commander Gigliotti and Auxiliary President Kathy Gigliotti before making brief remarks. Washington also presented a proclamation and gave some remarks.
Past Legion post commander Mike Moore, who serves as the vice chairman of the Maryland Veterans Commission, presented a proclamation to the citizens of Greenbelt and to American Legion Post 136 on behalf of Governor Wes Moore.
In his speech Gigliotti said, “One responsibility that all Americans should carry is the remembrance of those who have made our freedom possible.” He added, “Our message to America’s veterans – past and present – is simple. We will never forget you.”
Gigliotti told stories about veterans of two wars who died this year – Lou Conter and Roger Donlon – and their definitions of heroes.
Lou Conter, the sole survivor of the attack on the U.S.S. Arizona that brought the U.S. into WWII, died at age 102 on April 1.
“People call us heroes,” Conter said at the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. “We’re not the heroes. The 1,177 who went down with the ship are the heroes. You have to remember we got to go home, get married, have children and grandchildren, and we’ve lived a good life. Those who didn’t get to do that should be called the heroes.”
Roger Donlon endured multiple and severe wounds, and continuously exposed himself to great danger, administering first aid and saving the lives of fellow soldiers during a five-hour pre-dawn battle with the Viet Cong in Vietnam. President Lyndon Johnson presented him with a Medal of Honor for his actions. An online obituary quoted Donlon’s definition of heroism. “In my situation and every other situation that leads to the Medal of Honor, there is absolutely no input from the recipient. It’s all done by observers,” Donlon said. “Heroism is a product of what other people see.”
Wreaths from the city, the Legion, the Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion were placed at the memorial on the hill erected in honor of the 14 Greenbelters who died in World War II, near the second memorial erected by the Auxiliary in honor of the 17 who died in Korea and Vietnam.
The ceremony concluded with a rifle-fire salute and the playing of Taps.
