Within the walls of Pennsbury High School’s West Campus in Falls Township is a wall that honors members of the Pennsbury family who have died or gone missing while serving the country.
Each year around Memorial Day, a ceremony is held to add more names to the wall of honor.
Advertisements
This year, there were four additions to the wall; Aerographer 1st Class Denzel eddy Muggy (World War II), Lance Corporal Joseph N. Hargrove (Koh Tang), Private First Class George Leach (World War II), and Sergeant Fred Kurtzer (Vietnam.)
The emotions were strong throughout the course of the ceremony as students and veterans read passages and poems in honor and remembrance of those who gave their lives to protect the country and people they love.
The Wall of Honor began with Thomas Finnegan, who at the time was acting principal of Medill-Bier High School. Medill Bair has since become Pennsbury High School’s West Campus.
Advertisements
According to one of the organizers of the event, Cherissa Gibson, the wall is honoring “heroes with a Pennsbury connection.” Gibson explained anyone who attended, taught, or worked at Pennsbury was able to submit a name for recognition on the wall.
For all of those involved, the wall means more than just brick and mortar.
Advertisements
“It’s very personal for me, because I have family members on the wall. One of them was killed in action, the other missing in action,” said Dave Evans, an organizer of the event as well as a member of Pennsbury’s physical plant team.
Alison McBryar, another organizer and teacher echoed the sentiment, “It’s very moving and personal to a lot of Pennsbury graduates.”
The gravity of the situation was visible as emotion swept those attending through speeches and poems.
Advertisements
“It’s great to be given such an opportunity to give back to those who have given us so much,” said Michael Sun, one of the trumpeters playing taps for the ceremony.
As of the most recent additions to the wall, there are now 186 names being honored on Pennsbury’s Wall of Honor.
