Patriotism Alive: Greenwich's Independence Day Celebration [VIDEO]

Descendants of Greenwich's founding fathers, veterans, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, politicians and everyday people were among hundreds of town residents who showed their love of country during the annual Fourth of July flag-raising ceremony at Town Hall.

Attendees clasped small American flags—400 in all, donated by former Greenwich Republican Town Committee chair Ed Dadakis—as the ceremony was led by Bea Crumbine, chair and founder of the Independence Day Association of Greenwich, who organized Wednesday's ceremony.

Keeping alive the history of the founding of America as well as the history of the Town of Greenwich was the theme of the program. It was well evidenced by the participation of dozens of youngsters and teens who were Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, and Children of the American Revolution, some of whom wore period clothing like Crumbine.

"This celebrates our young people ... this is about the positive virtues of America, why it is great and what makes it great ... it exemplifies the spirit of America," said First Selectman Peter Tesei, one of the speakers.

There was a reading of the names of the 16 patriots from Greenwich who died during the Revolutionary War.

The Association also presented its citizenship awards to more than a dozen students from Greenwich schools.

Receiving the awards were Cameron Castelli, Chase Freiheit, Chase Kirkpatrick, Diana Jaramillo, Georgia Ferguson, Grace Fahey, Jack Caruso, Jack Childs, Jacqueline Siegmund, James Clarke Plewniak, Jamie Yee, Jonathan Price, Katherine Stolzer, Lindsay Han, Lindsey Smiles, Lisley DaSilva, Madeline Harrison, Meei Hayashida, Megan Farrell, Michael McNulty, Michele Socher, Rebecca Powell, Ted Brown, Valeria Tamayo, Ryoko Masuda, Haruhisa Takiguchi, Jackson Day, Elias Boyer and Alexa Augustine.