The following statement is from Greenwich resident David Wold in regard to his improper removal of the Filipino flag from the Town Hall flagpole on June 14.
To provide proper context, on June 13 the Town of Greenwich hosted members of the Filipino community for a flag raising outside Town Hall and the intention was to have the Filipino flag displayed outside of Town Hall as well on June 14 and June 15 and then be taken down on Monday, June 16. However it was reported to us on Saturday, June 14 that the Filipino flag had been removed and had been replaced by another flag.
The flag was not removed and replaced by any Town personnel and no members of the public were authorized to remove the flag and replace it with another one. It was then determined through a police investigation that Mr. Wold removed the flag and replaced it with the U.S. Army flag to commemorate the anniversary of the Army’s founding on June 14. While the U.S. Army flag is on the list of approved flag raisings that was unanimously endorsed this past January by the Board of Selectmen and the U.S. Army flag would have been proudly displayed had Mr. Wold asked to hold a ceremonial flag raising, at no time did he do this and he did not have permission to remove another country’s flag from Town property. When a ceremonial flag raising is held at Town Hall, it must first be approved by the Board of Selectmen and a resident or organization must then request and organize the ceremony. This policy had been explained multiple times to Mr. Wold and has been followed by every other resident and organization that has had a ceremonial flag raising in both 2024 and 2025 since the Town flag policy was in place.
When contacted by police. Mr. Wold willingly gave the Filipino flag to their custody and it was brought to Town Hall to be redisplayed during the week of June 16.
At the behest of First Selectman Fred Camillo, Mr. Wold has issued this formal statement of apology to the Filipino community which is being sent from this office to the members of the Connecticut Association of Filipino and American Families and to the office of the Philippine Consulate General.
The following is the statement from Mr. Wold:
“ I sincerely apologize to the Greenwich Filipino-American community for removing the Filipino flag from the Town Hall flagpole on the morning of June 14. I met with Town officials and am aware that my actions were not only wrong, but hurtful to the Filipino-American community here in Greenwich. I have assured Town officials that this will not happen ever again.”
The Town of Greenwich considers the matter resolved.
