Boston College Veterans Memorial

A Brief History, from the Dedication Ceremony Program

In 2001, the alumni association an Boston College's army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) created a committee, composed of Charles A. Benedict '67, MBA'70, Mary-Anne Benedict '67, Paul G. Delaney '66, Charles J. Heffernan Jr. '66, Chair, William C. McInnes, S.J., '44, MA'51, Margaret M. Murphy '56, associate dean D. Michael Ryan '67, and ROTC Captain Brett Tashiro, that organized an annual Veterans Remembrance Mass. The group established a tradition–included in today's ceremony–in which ROTC cadets read the names of Boston College alumni who perished in each war, asking, "Who will stand and answer for the fallen?" At each call, an alumni-veteran steps forward to say, "I will answer for all those who gave their lives," and lights a candle.

A Veterans Memorial Committee was formed in 2005 to develop a permanent tribute. Cochaired by Vietnam War veterans Paul G. Delaney '66 and Paul L. Lufkin '64, the group coordinated research that expanded the remembrance list to 209 names. Beginning with an appeal in 2007, it raised some $500,000 for construction and installation of the memorial from hundreds of alumni veterans and others. Today is the ninth annual commemoration of Boston College alumni who died in service to their country.