By Kia Heavey
The Silver Shield Foundation held its 6th Annual Greenwich Walk on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Greenwich Point park in Greenwich, CT. The SSF holds this annual event to honor the families of our fallen heroes and all first responders.
Participants in the event raised funds to support the SSF’s core mission of providing scholarships for children and surviving spouses of police officers, firefighters, and EMS members killed in the line of duty. The SSF scholarship program serves the families of fallen members of all police departments in Connecticut, as well as the NYPD, FDNY, NY/ NJ Port Authority Police, NY, NJ, and CT State Police, and Nassau and Suffolk County police departments.
Former NBC news anchor Chuck Scarborough, a Silver Shield Foundation Trustee, presided over the opening ceremony. Among the dignitaries and distinguished guests who spoke were Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo, Connecticut State Police Commander Colonel Daniel Loughman, New York City Police Department 1st Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella, and New York City Fire Department First Deputy Commissioner Mark Guerra.
After the ceremony concluded, the participants walked the over-two-mile loop around Greenwich Point in bright November sunshine. A cookout reception followed at the Clambake Area.
Representatives from many agencies participated, including the Greenwich Police, Fire, and EMS services, the NYPD and NYFD, the Connecticut, New York and New Jersey State Police, and the Suffolk and Nassau county police departments.
And of course, line-of-duty families, SSF scholarship recipients, and supporters came to honor their loved ones’ memories and join in the walk.
Over 200 people came to the event this year, helping to raise a new milestone of $200,000 towards the SSF’s Scholarship Program. Besides the generous attendees and walkers, the New York Yankees, The Wolverine Foundation, and Hamlin Capital Management served as Presenting Sponsors.
“This year, like most years, I enjoyed the Silver Shield walk in honor of our fallen, specifically my husband, Joseph Lemm,” Christine DeGuisto-Lemm told the Sentinel. Joseph was a detective with the NYPD and a reservist with the Air National Guard unit. He tragically lost his life on Dec. 21, 2015, while serving in Afghanistan.
Ms. DeGuisto-Lemm said she is always up for anything she can do to honor her late husband’s service and that of others who have served and sacrificed for our country. “The Silver Shield Foundation is an incredible organization which helps provide educational support to children of the fallen, of which both my children are recipients. I am incredibly grateful for all they do.”
The foundation supports line-of-duty families in other ways, too. On Nov. 9, the SSF was once again honored to sponsor the annual luncheon of the Police & Fire Line of Duty Widows of NYC. The gathering was held at
Russo’s on the Bay and hosted by the group’s president, Shirley Johnson.
Last July, the New York Yankees recognized the foundation’s newest graduates, from the Class of 2025. The highlight of the night was a pregame home plate ceremony, an exciting moment for the SSF Scholarship recipients.
Since 1982, the Silver Shield Foundation has provided educational support and services for the children and surviving spouses of police officers, firefighters, and EMS members killed in the line of duty. The SSF was founded by New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and his close friend, Olympic bronze medalist and Greenwich resident James E. Fuchs. Fuchs’ daughters K.C. and Tori, also Greenwich residents, continue to run the foundation.
Next year’s SSF 7th Annual Greenwich Walk is already scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026.
You can learn more about the Silver Shield Foundation and support its mission at its website: silvershieldfoundation.org
