WaterFire Salute to Veterans
Full Lighting
Sunset (5:38 pm) -9:00 pm
Made possible through the crucial support of Rhode Island Energy, General Dynamics Electric Boat, and BuildSubmarines.com/BlueForge Alliance with additional support from Dominion Energy/Manchester Street Station, Rob Levine Law, and Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD.
The lighting will begin at 5:56 PM and end at 10:00 PM. The earlier closing hour is to reduce costs due to the decreased number of sponsorships and the impact of the pandemic. Onshore programming and vendors open at 4:30 pm
WaterFire will be celebrating the 12th annual Salute to Veterans torch procession. This ceremony will honor Rhode Island’s Veterans and active-duty military personnel from all service branches. Over 100 Veterans holding torches will process into the WaterPlace Park Basin and create a Ring of Fire during the lighting of the WaterFire Braziers.
A speaking program will be held on the Basin Stage beginning at 4:30 PM with opening remarks from Kasim Yarn, the Director, RI Office of Veteran Affairs. There will also be remarks from Governor Daniel J. McKee, Senator Jack Reed, Representative Seth Magaziner, Lt. Governor Sabina Matos, Secretary Gregg Amore, Treasurer James Diossa, Senator Walter Felag Jr., Representative Sam Azzinaro, Mayor of Providence Brett Smiley, Director of the VA Regional Office EJ McQuade, David Roberts, the Vice President of Real Estate and Facilities at Electric Boat, and President of RI Energy Greg Cornett. The keynote speaker will be Admiral Peter A. Garvin of the Naval War College.
Following the speaking program will be performances from the Providence Firefighters Pipes & Drums at 5:15 PM and 5:30 PM. The Navy Band Northeast and RIARNG 88th will play on the Basin stage from 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM.
Salute to Veterans Torch Ceremony:
WaterFire invites Veterans and active duty service members to be Torchbearers for the Lighting Ceremony in WaterPlace Park in Providence, Rhode Island on November 2nd, 2024. This Ceremony will honor Rhode Island’s Veterans and active-duty military personnel from all service branches. 100 Veterans holding torches will process into the WaterPlace Park Basin and create a Ring of Fire during the lighting of the WaterFire Braziers.
