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News & Photos
McDonogh Gathers to Remember
“Today marks 79 years of gathering as a community at this sacred place,” said Head of School Dave Farace ‘87, in welcoming the McDonogh community and distinguished guests to the annual Memorial Day ceremony on Tuesday, May 20. After sharing a brief history of Memorial Court and McDonogh’s Gold Star Heroes, whose names are inscribed on the monument— the centerpiece of Memorial Court—he continued, “McDonogh is a community that remembers. Thank you for joining me today to pause and offer our thanks.”
The ceremony continued with Kylie Mentzer ’26, who introduced the Invocation from the World War I poem entitled After the War by May Wedderburn Cannan.
Then, Director of Spiritual and Ceremonial Services Kevin Costa shared the story of the short life of Robert Brooks Atkinson, Class of 1904, and the somewhat sketchy circumstances of his death in 1918 during the Meuse-Argonne campaign near Montfaucon, France. Years later, Costa explained, Atkinson’s sister, Marcella, corresponding with Duncan Campbell Lyle wrote, "Do you know anyone who lived a sweeter life, and died a nobler death?" She concluded her letter with a mix of heartbreak and pride, quoting her late brother, Robert, who said, "I'd be ashamed not to be in uniform . . . I would not miss it for all the world." His sister added: "And those boys realized what lay ahead of them." (Read the remarks about Robert Brooks Atkinson.)
Costa concluded, “As you enjoy the long weekend ahead, take a moment to remember Robert Brooks Atkinson and the countless others like him. Remember that behind every name, every statistic, every grave marker, there was a person with hopes and dreams not so different from our own.”
As the gathering reflected on the story, the Lower School Choir performed When Angels Call Me Home. Next, Costa introduced the poem The McDonogh Uniform written by Eustace Glascock, a member of the McDonogh Class of 1879. He noted, “It's most powerful line, ‘We Give Something More than We Take,’ became the McDonogh motto. When Memorial Court was dedicated in 1946, Eustace Glascock was present at age 85 to recite his poem to begin the ceremony.”
Then, Kimmy Hilson Carmichael ’10, and current students, Arjun Sood ’26, Arjun Hooda ‘29, and Cristian Gonzalez ’33 recited the iconic poem. The 2025 Memorial Day ceremony concluded with Carmichael and rising Senior Class President Reid Swirnow ’26 placing a wreath at the monument to honor McDonogh Veterans. After Taps was played and Caroline Kucskar '29 gave the introduction to the benediction by reading, “Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón, the students in attendance dismissed in silence as the Upper School Strings played Finlandia.
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“Today marks 79 years of gathering as a community at this sacred place,” said Head of School Dave Farace ‘87, in welcoming the McDonogh community and distinguished guests to the annual Memorial Day ceremony on Tuesday, May 20. After sharing a brief history of Memorial Court and McDonogh’s Gold Star Heroes, whose names are inscribed on the monument— the centerpiece of Memorial Court—he continued, “McDonogh is a community that remembers. Thank you for joining me today to pause and offer our thanks.”
The ceremony continued with Kylie Mentzer ’26, who introduced the Invocation from the World War I poem entitled After the War by May Wedderburn Cannan.
Then, Director of Spiritual and Ceremonial Services Kevin Costa shared the story of the short life of Robert Brooks Atkinson, Class of 1904, and the somewhat sketchy circumstances of his death in 1918 during the Meuse-Argonne campaign near Montfaucon, France. Years later, Costa explained, Atkinson’s sister, Marcella, corresponding with Duncan Campbell Lyle wrote, "Do you know anyone who lived a sweeter life, and died a nobler death?" She concluded her letter with a mix of heartbreak and pride, quoting her late brother, Robert, who said, "I'd be ashamed not to be in uniform . . . I would not miss it for all the world." His sister added: "And those boys realized what lay ahead of them." (Read the remarks about Robert Brooks Atkinson.)
Costa concluded, “As you enjoy the long weekend ahead, take a moment to remember Robert Brooks Atkinson and the countless others like him. Remember that behind every name, every statistic, every grave marker, there was a person with hopes and dreams not so different from our own.”
As the gathering reflected on the story, the Lower School Choir performed When Angels Call Me Home. Next, Costa introduced the poem The McDonogh Uniform written by Eustace Glascock, a member of the McDonogh Class of 1879. He noted, “It's most powerful line, ‘We Give Something More than We Take,’ became the McDonogh motto. When Memorial Court was dedicated in 1946, Eustace Glascock was present at age 85 to recite his poem to begin the ceremony.”
Then, Kimmy Hilson Carmichael ’10, and current students, Arjun Sood ’26, Arjun Hooda ‘29, and Cristian Gonzalez ’33 recited the iconic poem. The 2025 Memorial Day ceremony concluded with Carmichael and rising Senior Class President Reid Swirnow ’26 placing a wreath at the monument to honor McDonogh Veterans. After Taps was played and Caroline Kucskar '29 gave the introduction to the benediction by reading, “Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón, the students in attendance dismissed in silence as the Upper School Strings played Finlandia.