Diageo staff, veterans, town dignitaries and charitable organizations gathered at Diageo North America headquarters in Norwalk on November 9 to commemorate Veterans Day, with their first Military Service Appreciation Day celebration. The event is part of Diageo’s ongoing “Salute the Troops” initiative. During the opening ceremony, a U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard led a presentation of the colors escorted by The Hampton Pipes and Drums. Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling proclaimed the day Diageo Military Service Appreciation Day. “Together we forget why we have this freedom and don’t always remember that part of our freedom to live and freedom to enjoy is because [of] someone else putting their freedom on the line,” said Marc S. Strachan, Vice President of Corporate Relations and Constituent Affairs. Diageo also works with charitable partners such as iPads for Soldiers, Packages From Home and Brides Across America, among others, to provide “assistance, care and kindness” to military families and soldiers. After the opening ceremony, a keynote address was given by Lt. Col. Michael Zacchea, USMC, Ret., followed by a panel discussion. The day wrapped up with a seminar led by Packages From Home, where volunteers created care packages to send to troops abroad.