WHEREAS, The Vietnam War, which began in 1957 and ended in 1975, took the lives of 648 Philadelphians; and
WHEREAS, Father Judge High School, an all-boys Catholic school in the northeast section of the City, lost 27 graduates from the classes of 1960 to 1968; and
WHEREAS, Known as the Father Judge “27”., these men gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country; and
WHEREAS. Their names were Raymond Ahern ’65, Leonard Albany ’61, John Bense ’63, William Brown ’62, William Carpenter ’66, Fergus Carroll ’66, Patrick Corcoran ’68, Michael Giannini ’61, Joseph Gradel ’64, Clement Grassi ’64, Donald Hertrich ’66, Donald Iller ’64, Francis Kane ’67, Michael Kilderry ’64, Thomas Killion ’67, Bernard Kissell ’64, Michael Koper ’64, John Lyons ’66, Stephen Miller ’63, Philip O’Connell ’60, John O’Farrell ’64, Joseph Pellegrino ’61, William Schussler ’67, James Snock ’65, George Townsend '66, Michael Vitale ’66, and Edward Zackowski ’65; and
WHEREAS, Each of these men left behind family, friends, and a Crusaders community who continue to honor their legacy and sacrifice; and
WHEREAS, Father Judge High School has a memorial on their front lawn to honor these 27 men. Dedicated in 1968, the large granite structure features their names, an engraving of Michelangelo's "Pieta" and an inscription from John 15:13 that reads “Greater love than this no one has, that one lay down his life for his friends," positioned in front of an American flag; and
WHEREAS, The Father Judge community hosts multiple events a year at the site to honor their memories, as shown in the documentary
Remembering the 27 Crusaders
; and
WHEREAS, The documentary, released in 2019, highlights the lives and service of these 27 young men through interviews with their families, classmates, and fellow-service members and explores the process of mourning and remembrance; and
WHEREAS, In also naming the street outside of Father Judge High School after these brave men, we affirm our gratitude and respect for the men and the families the left behind in service to our country; now therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby renames the 3300 Block of Solly Ave as ‘Father Judge 27 Way” to honor the 27 graduates of Father Judge High School who lost their lives in the Vietnam War.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to Father Judge High School as a testament to their dedication to their fallen alumni.
End