6th Annual "Phil Burr Senior Coffee" For MHS Senior Class of 2025

Annual "Phil Burr Senior Coffee" For MHS Senior Class of 2025

Organized by Medfield High School Guidance Counselor, Erik Ormberg, members of the MHS Class of 2025 gathered at St. Edward Church on Wednesday morning, May 28th, for the "6th Phil Burr Senior Coffee".

Mr. Phil Burr was a Class of 1947 Medfield High School graduate and lived in Medfield until his passing in 2020. He was a highly decorated Marine, serving in the Korean War, earning a Purple Heart and the Navy Cross securing him a place in the prestigious Legion of Valor.

(The Legion of Valor of the USA is the oldest Veteran Service Organization in the nation dating continuously from 1890. Its members are recipients of the nation’s two highest honors for valor in combat – the Congressional Medal of Honor and the individual armed services awards for extraordinary heroism in combat – the Navy Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Cross and the Air Force Cross.)

After the seniors arrived, they were offered coffee and donuts and sat at round tables to learn more about Phil Burr. Erik Ormberg gave the students a brief description of who Phil Burr was. He also told them about the impact Burr had on him, and stated this annual Coffee, with Burr as a role model, is a way for members of the senior class to work toward exemplifying Mr. Burr.

Mrs. June Doucette-Burr spoke next and asked each senior to make known their plans after graduation from Medfield High School, whether it be going to college, working a job, or entering the military. Each senior proudly stated their name and their plan. Next, Mrs. Burr spoke with great pride about her late husband. She told them that Phil was a very reserved man, but she loves to boast about his greatness and bravery when he was in the United States Marine Corps. Mrs. Burr brought photocopies of Burr's Citation from the Secretary of the Navy (when he was presented the Navy Cross).

This relatively new tradition of gathering members of the senior class for a "Coffee" while honoring the legacy of Phil Burr is a wonderful way "connect the generations" and appreciate the history
of people like Phil, who will always be remembered in Medfield.