Glen Doherty's Number Retired at WHS Ceremony

Winchester resident Glen Doherty, one of four Americans killed during a terror attack in Libya in September, had his number 20 retired during a ceremony Thursday night at Winchester High School.

During a singing of the "Star-Spangled Banner," Doherty's number 20 was hoisted to the rafters of the Field House, joining Joe Bellino (No. 27), Joe Murphy (No. 22) and Chris Mitropoulos's number 44 on the Wall of Honor.

Doherty was one of four Americans killed in a terror attack at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya on Sept. 12, 2012. Doherty was a former Navy SEAL working for a private security company while living near San Diego.

Barbara Doherty, Glen Doherty's mother, thanked the few hundred people that turned out for the ceremony for attending. Dozens of local and state officials attended the ceremony.

Winchester High wrestling coach Larry Tremblay praised Glen Doherty for his dedicated service to our country. Tremblay was Glen's wrestling coach in the mid-80s.

"It's a little tough standing up here to speak about one of your former wrestler," Tremblay said a bit choked up. "...In life there' what I call king makers and kings...and in my heart there is no bigger king than Glen Doherty for the sacrifice he made and I could not be prouder to have shared in the relationship we had with him, and I can't thank him enough for what he did for our country."

Tremblay spoke briefly about Doherty's family, as Glen's brother Greg was a "tremendous wrestler here, his dad was a boxing commissioner here in Massachusetts, and his mother gave him all of the feistiness you'd ever want."

In the fall a third grade teacher provided Winchester High School Athletic Director Brian Carroll with a student's assignment, which involved identifying each student's top five role models. The list included a lacrosse player, someone Tremblay was unfamiliar with, the boy's father, George Washington and Glen Doherty "which I think is amazing," Tremblay said.

As a 1988 Winchester High School graduate, Doherty was a member of the tennis and wrestling teams while in school. His family still resides in neighboring Woburn and Marblehead.

Winchester and Woburn Police Honor Guards participated in the ceremony.

After the ceremony, the Winchester wrestling team hosted Woburn.

Paying Tribute to Doherty

To honor Doherty, the Winchester wrestling team will be donning camouflage uniforms during their events scheduled through Feb. 17 as they did during the ceremony.

"We will do this each winter to keep Glen's memory alive and to educate our student-athletes on the exemplary life he led," reads a school press statement. 

Camouflage sweatshirts ($35) and t-shirts ($10) will be sold and proceeds from the sales will benefit the Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation, according to the statement. The clothing can be purchased at Winchester High School through February.

Replica game jerseys ($80 for hockey, $70 for basketball) that Sachems players will be wearing will also be sold to benefit the foundation.