Sewanhaka honors veteran heroes

The Island Now
From left, Private First Class Bennett, Sewanhaka alumnus Richard Fleurshier, Bill Garnett, Carl Johnson, Lorraine Snevel and Dan Bresnick are pictured with Sewanhaka High School Principal Christopher Salinas and Staff Sargent Grandow. Photo courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District)

On Oct. 13, members of Sewanhaka High School’s Class of 1967 met with the school’s current seniors to discuss their experiences at the high school and the impact of the Vietnam War.

Alumnus and Vietnam veteran Carl Johnson, along with other members of the Class of ’67, presented the school with shadowboxes, which included distinctions, honors and awards on behalf of nine Sewanhaka alumni who lost their lives in service during the war.

Army Major Charles Wilkie (Class of ’52)

Army Private First-Class Thomas Bonventre (Class of ’64)

Army Private First-Class Robert Finnegan (Class of ’65)

Army Sergeant Barry Bausch (Class of ’66)

Marine Captain Ronald Pfeifer (Class of ’59)

Marine Second Lieutenant Albert Doody (Class of ’61)

Marine Second Lieutenant Thomas Hoare Jr. (Class of ’62)

Marine Private First-Class Peter Lovan (Class of ’67)

Marine Lance Corporal Michael Alberici (Class of ’65)

These fallen soldiers are memorialized on the Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. The shadowboxes presented to the school will be displayed in the school’s hallways. The school also hosted a community ceremony on Oct. 14 to pay tribute to the Sewanhaka heroes.

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