High School Wall Of Honor Adds Two New Names

The annual Wall of Honor ceremony took place at Pennsbury High School Friday morning and entered two more names onto the wall honoring military service people who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The two servicemen were inducted into the Wall of Honor were Captain Charles Irwin Rice, a Marine who served in Korea, and Lt. Thomas A. Davis, a member of the Army who served in World War II.

The guest speaker at the ceremony was Tim Stives, who served in Vietnam after graduating from Pennsbury in 1965.

“Now, 50 years later, it’s my responsibility to remember my friends who didn’t make it back,” Stives said, remarking that many of those friends went to Pennsbury and that their names even appear on the wall.

Throughout the rest of the service, a number of students read prayers and poems. The Falconairs sang the National Anthem and “Hold Me, Rock Me.” “Taps” was performed during the ceremony.

Russell Davidson, commander Veterans of Foreign Wars post 6393, was present to accept a donation from the high school as well.

“To have a great respect and love for what you’re remembering is important,” said Davidson. “It’s just beautiful to see the spirit of nationalism alive in this way,” he went on.

Faculty organizers for the ceremony included Alison McBryar and Robin Skogen.

“It is a privilege to be able to give back a little bit,” said Skogen, who has been involved in the ceremony for the past five years. “I really believe that service helps us to grow as people.”

With the addition of the two names added this year, the grand total of names on the wall comes to 200.

Names are nominated to the wall by people with some connection to Pennsbury. This year, Davis was nominated by his nephew Robert’s wife, who is a teacher at Pennsbury, Rice was nominated by his great-great niece, Ella-Violet Herman, who is a student at the school.

“It’s a great honor, because growing up, my father never really talked about it,” explained Robert Davis, whose uncle was added to the wall on Friday.

Upon having Davis’ service brought up, he did more research into his uncle’s service.

“Realizing what he went through really helped me to appreciate his service even more,” Davis said.

As far as the remaining family honoring loved ones, according to Skogen, all of the family members are more than pleased.

“They are beyond appreciative that their loved ones are not going to be forgotten.”