Father Judge High School on Saturday held a Christmas wreath-laying ceremony at its Vietnam war memorial.
The school lost 27 graduates in the war, and the ceremony featured the reading of those names by alums Joe Altimari, Tom Christy and Ed Costello, who all attended Judge in the 1960s with classmates who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Senior William McGlynn led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and singing of the national anthem. Senior Braedon Hart and sophomore Seamus Hart placed the wreath. Tim O’Driscoll (class of 2007) played Taps and Amazing Grace.
The Rev. Joe Campellone, the school’s former president, offered a prayer and blessed the wreath. And there were remarks from longtime active alum Mike Dufner, Brother Jim Williams (a ‘63 grad) and school president Brian King.
The fire department’s Engine 36 and Ladder 20 trucks were on hand.
The ceremony was inspired by Wreaths Across America and its mission of “Remember, Honor, Teach.”
The Father Judge 27 are Raymond Ahern (‘65), Leonard Albany (‘61), John Bense (‘63), William Brown (‘62), William Carpenter (‘66), Fergus Carroll (‘66), Patrick Corcoran (‘68), Michael Giannini (‘61), Joseph Gradel (‘64), Clement Grassi (‘64), Donald Hertrich (‘66), Ronald Iller (‘64), Francis Kane (‘67), Michael Kilderry (‘64), Thomas Killion (‘67), Bernard Kissell (‘64), Michael Koper (‘64), John Lyons (‘66), Stephen Miller (‘63), Philip O’Connell (‘60), John O’Farrell (‘64), Joseph Pellegrino (‘61), William Schussler (‘67), James Snock (‘65), George Townsend (‘66), Michael Vitale (‘66) and Edward Zackowski (‘65).
Their names are on the memorial along with this verse from John 15:13, “Greater love than this no one has that one lay down his life for his friends.” ••
