The Beverly Hills School Memorial Day Program

Beverly Hills Middle School principal Mrs. Kelly Simone brought back the Memorial Day Program to the Upper Darby School which had been discontinued for the past several years. The program consisted of a Marine Corps Color Guard leading off the program. The Color Guard members were Sgts. Travis Romenesko and Uwe Esser accompanied by Earle Drake and Paul Donohue, duel members of the General Smedley D. Butler and Upper Darby Detachments of the Marine Corps League.

The Middle School Band and the Choral played and sang “The Star Spangled Banner”, “ Hallelujah”, and “Count on Me”. Memorial speeches were presented by John Barry Kelly, a Revolutionary War Re-enactor dressed as George Washington, and U.S. Army SFC (ret) Thomas Leonard. Both men gave moving and powerful speeches on the meaning of Memorial Day and the military women and men who made the supreme sacrifice to protect American values in the many wars in which the United States was engaged throughout its history. Mr. Kelly also recited an original poem on the meaning of Memorial Day.

The 8th grade was represented by Nathaniel Sizemore and Fateha Zannath who spoke of what Memorial Day meant to them.

Mrs. Simone then called forward Retired Marine Gunnery Sgt. Mark Clark, a member of the school staff, for special recognition. Mrs. Simone also recognized the members of the Color Guard. At that point Taps was played by two buglers of the Middle School band and the Colors were retired.

In the group photo, left to right, are: Marine Sgt. Ewe Esser, Marine Corps leaguers Paul Donohue and Earle Drake, John Barry Kelly (George Washington), Marine Sgt. Romenesko, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Mark Clark, retired, and Mrs. Kelly Simone, Beverly Hills Middle School principal.