ROCHESTER, N.Y. — McQuaid Jesuit will unveil a memorial Wednesday honoring 10 alumni who were killed while serving in the U.S. military.
The 10 sentinels remained covered until Wednesday’s unveiling. Each sentinel includes the fallen service member’s high school picture, where they served, what branch they were in, and what kind of person they were in high school.
The project has been years in the making. The idea came from a graduate who has spent the last 40 years advocating for veterans, said Heather Whiting, the school’s vice president of advancement.
“So everything that you will see here has been approved by our Gold Star families, and they are very excited and very happy and appreciative of what we are going to be giving to them, which is the opportunity to honor their friends or to honor their sons,” Heather Whiting said.
After it’s unveiled, the memorial will be illuminated 24/7.
“It’s really important is that these are going to be illuminated 24 seven, so that means that the lights never going to go out on them,” Whiting said. “We will never forget them.”
The memorial not only honors the fallen but emphasizes McQuaid’s mission of service above self, said McQuaid president Steve Salluzzo.
“It’s an important component of their education, service above self and being a man for others, and there’s nothing more that exemplifies that than giving your life, fighting for your country,” Salluzzo said.
Salluzzo said the official dedication Wednesday afternoon will be emotional.
“We’ve had the opportunity to talk with many of the families and really hear the stories of some of these young men who served our country and will be part of the memorial,” Salluzzo said. “I think it’s going to be a good day, but it’s going to be a very emotional day for everybody involved.”
John Snyder, a member of the class of 1967, spearheaded the effort. Snyder served in the Vietnam War, and half of the men in the memorial died during that war. He’s been working to support veterans for over 40 years. Snyder said the students at McQuaid need to understand the serious side of life.
“I felt like the students at McQuaid really needed to know that life was not always just a lot of fun and a great, exciting adventure,” Snyder said. “There are parts of it that are very, very serious. When you raise your right hand and join the military, you’re willing to give everything up to include in your life, and that’s what these men did.”
Each sentinel includes a photograph and background history, including what parish the service member came from and what activities they were in at school. There will also be a QR code visitors can scan to learn more about each person.
“I really want them to learn what it takes to live a life of integrity, and all of these men that are going to be honored here, lived those lives,” Snyder said. “These young kids are going to walk out of McQuaid with a whole different perspective, because they will get to know who these ten people are.”
The memorial is located on the back loop of the school outside Keenan Hall and is open to the public. McQuaid Jesuit has more than 300 alumni who are active military or veterans.
Through this project, the class of 1967 is also establishing the Sons of Veterans Scholarship Fund. The fund will provide financial aid to students whose parents are members of the armed forces.
‘An emotional day’; McQuaid set to unveil memorial for 10 alumni killed while serving their country WHEC.com.
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