GENERATIONS
Brothers Bound by Shared Sacrifice
The notion of what it means to be a good man is at the heart of the mission of Saint David ’ s School . The Seventh Grade Father / Son Dinner is an annual special event in which fathers or father figures , and sons explore what it means to be a good man , the relationship between parent and son , and other missioninspired themes . The school was thrilled to have fathers , sons , grandparents , brothers or other paternal influences in the lives of our boys at table together in April for this signature event — the first time we could hold it in person in the last two years .
This year ’ s featured guest speaker , Kevin M . Callahan , wrote Brothers in Arms : Remembering Brothers Buried Side by Side in American World War II Cemeteries . Callahan ’ s book centers on the stories of brothers who died fighting for freedom during the Second World War . After graduating from Yale University , Mr . Callahan had visited the American cemetery at Normandy and was taken by both the beauty of the grounds and the sacrifice of so many . He realized that their sacrifice was what enabled him to “ trek through a free and prosperous Europe some fifty years later .” He was struck particularly by the grave site of Sgt . Frank McNally from New York , who at the time of his death was about the same age as Mr . Callahan . Then , ten years ago , when visiting the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Italy with his wife and three young sons , Mr . Callahan came across a pair of brothers buried side by side . He found the sight
of the two brothers resting together to be especially poignant . This experience inspired him to find and tell the stories of all brothers buried side by side in American World War II cemeteries overseas .
The ultimate expression of “ the good ” is the sacrifice of one ’ s own life to save the lives of others . For a family to lose more than one member to war is a sacrifice of exponential proportion and pain . Each serviceman who lost his life had a story and Mr . Callahan shared those of some of the brothers : the Roosevelts , the Bangs , and others who , while hailing from different backgrounds all served together , united by a sense of duty and purpose . Attendees were moved by the tales of these brothers and their sacrifice for the greater good , and came away with much to contemplate and reflect upon .
The event ’ s theme reinforced the enduring bonds of friendship and family , which we also celebrate during this dinner . Held in the spring of Seventh Grade just as our boys begin planning the transition to their next school and when their families are engaging in conversations about life and “ what comes next ,” the evening focuses on the power of supportive and loving relationships . Appreciation to the Development office for organizing and executing such a memorable experience and to the Neary family for helping the school secure this internationally renowned guest .
76 • Saint David ’ s Magazine