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New Flagpole Dedicated at Senior Parent Dinner

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New Flagpole Dedicated at Senior Parent Dinner
A group of people stand under red and black umbrellas in the foreground, facing a modern brick building with a flagpole in the background.

Parents of the Class of 2026 gathered on Sunday, May 31, to celebrate their sons and kick off Commencement week at the Senior Parent Dinner. The evening began with a cocktail reception in the Class of 2013 Courtyard. A passing shower moved the gathering into Ward Hall before guests proceeded to the Greendale Avenue entrance of the School for the dedication of the newly erected flagpole, this year’s Senior Class Gift.

The flagpole stands in honor of all St. Sebastian’s alumni who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The hexagonal base is adorned with six medallions representing each branch of the military: Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Space Force. Along with the U.S. flag, the POW/MIA flag will fly—an intentional choice inspired by this year’s All-School Read, The Search for Canasta 404: Love, Loss, and the POW/MIA Movement by Maureen Dunn P’84, GP’28.

Fr. Boyle opened the dedication with a blessing, followed by Greg Poulos P’26,’31, who highlighted the significance of the flagpole’s location on campus, noting that “meaningful monuments deserve meaningful placements, and every day our boys will pass this flagpole and remember those who have come before them and served their country, and in that moment, they will be proud to be an Arrow.”

Senior parent Vice Admiral Walter Massenburg P’24,’26 followed, emphasizing that the flag honors the past—those who have served; the present—those currently serving; and the future—as inspiration for those who may choose to serve.

Army Captain (Ret.) Andrew Maxwell ’06, the School’s only alumnus veteran faculty member, offered a powerful reflection on the meaning of the flagpole:

“In the military, the command headquarters is commonly referred to as the flagpole. Whether in garrison or on a remote support site, you always know where the flagpole is. If you are in trouble, you try to make it back to that flagpole—and if you cannot, someone is coming from it to help you. If you need logistical support, direction, or mentorship, you can find it at the flagpole.

Before training or deployment, the command headquarters publishes its mission statement—the task and purpose of that command in its simplest form, so there is no confusion among subordinate units. Everyone is aligned, moving in the same direction, and committed to the same mission. When you are cold, tired, wet, and hungry—or when you are lost and unsure what to do—you close your eyes and hold that mission statement in your memory. Following it ensures you are moving in the right direction.

Now, as students and alumni see this flagpole and close their eyes, they can know their mission here: to ‘Love God, work hard, and take good care of one another.’”

The dedication held special significance for several families of the Class of 2026. Seamus Noonan ’17, son of Bill and Coleen Noonan P’16,’17,’22,’26, serves in the U.S. Marine Corps. Jack McHugh ’24 is a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and David Greaney ’26 and Joseph Koh ’26 will follow him to West Point later this month. In addition, Peter Keefe ’26 and Colin Williams ’26 have earned Army ROTC scholarships to Providence College and Georgetown University, respectively.

To conclude the dedication, Maryn Pettibone, a rising junior at Dexter Southfield, delivered a stirring rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner,” and Head of School Brendan Sullivan thanked members of the Senior Class Gift Committee.

The evening continued at the Class of 2007 Terrace at the Head of School’s residence, Griffith House, where parents enjoyed dinner and each other’s company. Sullivan expressed gratitude for their unwavering support throughout the year and, echoing remarks from the Alumni-Senior Breakfast, encouraged parents to savor the special moments of Commencement week. The evening concluded as parents received a specially framed photograph of their son.

Parents of the Class of 2026 will now join the Quinquennial Society, which recognizes parents in the five years following their sons’ graduation, and will be invited to a reception in January 2027 to continue relationships formed during their time at St. Sebastian’s.

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A group of people stand under red and black umbrellas in the foreground, facing a modern brick building with a flagpole in the background.
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Three men in suits pose for a photo in the foreground, while a catered event with red and white tablecloths and guests is visible in the background.
Three people pose for a photo in the foreground, with tables and other guests visible in the background under a tent.
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