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News & Photos
A Day of Remembering
Each year the McDonogh community gathers at Childs Memorial Terrace for Dedication Day — an opportunity to pause and offer our gratitude to the individuals and groups whose stewardship, labor, philanthropy, dedication, and sacrifice helped to establish, create, and enrich our School.
The ceremony, on Friday, October 9, began with stirring music, poignant readings, and a reflection on the career of former faculty member George “Pee Wee” Harris. As Director of Spiritual and Ceremonial Services Kevin Costa noted in his remarks, Harris was a “gentle giant” who helped form students of character and grit for more than 30 years.
Costa explained the significance of the storytelling, saying, “I’ve come to feel, more and more each year as I dig into the biographies of McDonogh’s past, just how significant a career at this school is — often for whole families.” He continued, “It reminds me how McDonogh ties us, one to another, generation after generation. On this day of remembering, then, it’s important to remind ourselves of those who have gone before us and to welcome those who will follow.”
After sharing the life of Pee Wee Harris, Costa was joined by Head of School Dave Farace ’87 for the wreath-laying ceremony. As is tradition, student representatives placed memorial wreaths as an offering of deep appreciation to:
- the Indigenous people who stewarded the land for many generations before McDonogh School was founded
- the enslaved peoples of John McDonogh, whose labor built his wealth
- John McDonogh, whose philanthropic vision and generosity established the School
- generations of faculty and staff who provided exceptional educational opportunities for students
- McDonogh alumni who gave their lives in military service to our nation in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam
Before the Upper School Concert Choir performed the Dedication Hymn, Costa reminded the students: “This hymn is dear to our hearts and is a beautiful offering of love to all of the members of our community whose legacies we ‘sing.’”
The morning ceremony continued with the solemn recognition of those alumni, faculty, staff, and trustees who left us this past year. As Alumni Association President Kathy Reider ’96 read the 59 names, the chapel bell tolled, and David Holland ’90 and Ana Rodriguez ’08 placed a flower in an urn. Reider noted, “There is an Egyptian proverb that says, ‘To speak the name of the dead is to make them live again.’ Today, we call their names, ensuring that their memory will forever live on in our hearts.”
Dedication Day concluded with the playing of Taps.
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Each year the McDonogh community gathers at Childs Memorial Terrace for Dedication Day — an opportunity to pause and offer our gratitude to the individuals and groups whose stewardship, labor, philanthropy, dedication, and sacrifice helped to establish, create, and enrich our School.
The ceremony, on Friday, October 9, began with stirring music, poignant readings, and a reflection on the career of former faculty member George “Pee Wee” Harris. As Director of Spiritual and Ceremonial Services Kevin Costa noted in his remarks, Harris was a “gentle giant” who helped form students of character and grit for more than 30 years.
Costa explained the significance of the storytelling, saying, “I’ve come to feel, more and more each year as I dig into the biographies of McDonogh’s past, just how significant a career at this school is — often for whole families.” He continued, “It reminds me how McDonogh ties us, one to another, generation after generation. On this day of remembering, then, it’s important to remind ourselves of those who have gone before us and to welcome those who will follow.”
After sharing the life of Pee Wee Harris, Costa was joined by Head of School Dave Farace ’87 for the wreath-laying ceremony. As is tradition, student representatives placed memorial wreaths as an offering of deep appreciation to:
- the Indigenous people who stewarded the land for many generations before McDonogh School was founded
- the enslaved peoples of John McDonogh, whose labor built his wealth
- John McDonogh, whose philanthropic vision and generosity established the School
- generations of faculty and staff who provided exceptional educational opportunities for students
- McDonogh alumni who gave their lives in military service to our nation in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam
Before the Upper School Concert Choir performed the Dedication Hymn, Costa reminded the students: “This hymn is dear to our hearts and is a beautiful offering of love to all of the members of our community whose legacies we ‘sing.’”
The morning ceremony continued with the solemn recognition of those alumni, faculty, staff, and trustees who left us this past year. As Alumni Association President Kathy Reider ’96 read the 59 names, the chapel bell tolled, and David Holland ’90 and Ana Rodriguez ’08 placed a flower in an urn. Reider noted, “There is an Egyptian proverb that says, ‘To speak the name of the dead is to make them live again.’ Today, we call their names, ensuring that their memory will forever live on in our hearts.”
Dedication Day concluded with the playing of Taps.