Groton — Navy Rear Adm. Richard Seif said at Veterans Day ceremonies on Thursday that he can't think of anywhere better to honor and remember veterans than in the Groton and New London area.

The commander of the Undersea Warfighting Development Center told veterans, families, community members and officials gathered for the United States Submarine Veterans Inc. Groton Base's Veterans Day Observance at the Groton City Municipal Building that they are in the shadow of hallowed ground. Sief also addressed a crowd at a ceremony in New London later in the day.  

Seif noted nearby Fort Griswold, "where 88 brave patriots from Groton, New London, Stonington, Ledyard, Saybrook and even Long Island gave their lives at the height of the American Revolution," as well as nodding to the nearby U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II National Memorial and the conning tower of the USS Flasher.

Submarines are under construction at Electric Boat, Seif said, noting the new South Yard Assembly Building in progress for the construction of the new Columbia-class submarines. Across the river is the Coast Guard Academy, and up the river is the Naval Submarine Base.

Seif said "our secret sauce for our submarine force and our community is our people: our sailors, our civilians and their families. People who answered the call, whether on active duty or deployed or working overtime to find solutions that deter conflict and save lives, and we get our strength from the support of our community."

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, said the efforts of the United States Submarine Veterans Inc. Groton Base to educate local people, as well as the state and others, "is as relevant in 2021 as almost any moment in the 21st century." He thanked the Subvets for their amazing work "day in and day out" to help sailors and ensure the work of the silent service is remembered and understood.

Steve Ricard, the master of ceremonies and base commander for Submarine Veterans Inc. in Groton, reflected on the significance of Veterans Day, which is in memory of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, when World War I came to a close. The holiday was called Armistice Day until President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the name to Veterans Day.

"This is a day that honors the veterans that had served in all of the wars — that put in the sacrifice and the time for our freedom," Ricard said.

Ricard, who visited a local school on Wednesday and saw young children thanking veterans for their service, also spoke about the importance of teaching the next generation about veterans.

The Groton ceremony included the tolling of the boats — in remembrance of each submarine lost and the submariners who paid the ultimate sacrifice — the laying of a wreath, reciting of creeds, an invocation and a benediction.

Across the Thames River, more than 50 people attended a Veterans Day ceremony in New London, the first such ceremony in several years. It was hosted by the New London Veterans Affairs Committee.

"Keep all veterans close to your heart, your thoughts and your prayers, for surely they deserve your thanks for the preservation of the freedoms we share today," said Al Kinsall, chairman of the committee.

Mayor Michael Passero said the event was one of the first gatherings of this size since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and it came one day after he lifted the indoor mask mandate. He said he hoped to carry on the tradition of honoring "men and women from New London who have fought and died for this country for 400 years."

Among those gathered at the New London event was Bob Gustafson of North Stonington, a member of the U.S. Submarine Veterans Inc.'s color guard, which took part in the ceremony at the New London Senior Center. He joined the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1953 when he was a high school senior with a group of friends who were not so certain about their future after high school. He was living in Beverly, Mass., at the time.

"Some of them later chickened out when they heard submarines," he said.

Gustafson, however, would go on to sign up with the Navy after high school and serve on 10 different submarines over a more than 20-year career before retiring in 1976.

Groton City Mayor Keith Hedrick, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1977 to 2000, gave the keynote address at New London's ceremony. He said it was a day to reflect.

"Most veterans I talk to are humble and modest about their contributions to our country," he said. "But when I listen to their stories, I hear the pride they had for their service and about the friendships they developed and sustained and for what they gave for their country and the years and dedication to a purpose."

"Whether you are 'Army Strong,' 'Forged by the Sea,' 'Always Ready, Always There,' 'Aim High ... Fly, Fight, Win' or have slogans like 'Semper Paratus' or 'Semper Fidelis,'" he said, "you were dedicated to the safety of the country."

k.drelich@theday.com

g.smith@theday.com