Alumni News Fall 2006 – Volume 45, Issue 3 Alumni Mission: We exist to unite and grow our alumni family, and champion the dream and values of Father Flanagan through leadership. Fellow Alumnus Parker Messmore, ’05, Defending Our Freedom When 2005 graduate Army Pfc. Parker Messmore, visited he met with the Army’s Rear D Company in Fort Campbell, Ky., Girls and Boys Town during the July 4th holiday it served as and shipped out to Iraq in December, where he met his 2/502nd a reminder of the sacrifice many alumni make protecting our Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. freedoms. “I’ve been with the unit ever Messmore, an Indiana native, was since,” said Messmore, 19. wounded in action March 10 in Baghdad, On March 10, Messmore was on Iraq, by a roadside bomb. Three months foot patrol clearing routes in a Baghdad later he received his Purple Heart neighborhood when he stood on a directly from his Commander in Chief, roadside bomb and it exploded, spread- President George W. Bush. ing shrapnel throughout his legs. “I’ve always wanted to be in the mil- “When I was blown up, I thought I itary since I was six,” said Messmore, a wasn’t gonna make it,” said Messmore. member of the Army’s 101st Airborne Messmore was taken by medical Division. “I am always ready to defend helicopter to a military hospital in my country. I am very thankful that Kuwait where most of the shrapnel Girls and Boys Town set up meet- was removed. He remained in Kuwait ings for me with military personnel. for more than a month while his I learned what the Army offered and wounds healed before returning to what it can do for me.” action in Iraq. Girls and Boys Town’s family atmo- “My unit was very supportive and sphere provided a strong influence for kept me going. They told me I would Parker and it’s something he said he be all right and soon be ready to go continues to treasure. “This is where again,” said Messmore. my family was for four years,” said In June, Messmore received orders Messmore, who lived in the home of to return to Kuwait and his unit – this Mike and Jennifer Mitchell. “I consider time for a pleasant surprise; President Pfc. Parker Messmore is an American hero. The 2005 this my home.” Boys Town High School graduate received his Purple Bush personally presented the Purple Messmore, granted two weeks leave Heart directly from President Bush after being wounded Heart to Messmore and other wound- from action in Iraq, came directly to the in battle in Baghdad, Iraq. ed soldiers. Village of Boys Town after leaving June 27. Escorted by Father “This is the best moment in my life,” said Messmore, who Val Peter, Girls and Boys Town Executive Director Emeritus, claimed to be more nervous about meeting the president than Messmore received a hero’s welcome when many youth gave being in battle. “I personally got to shake the president’s hand him a standing ovation at the Music Hall. and meet my commander who leads me in battle.” “I always knew I would come back to Girls and Boys Town,” Girls and Boys Town has a long tradition with the American said Messmore. military. Nearly one-quarter of Girls and Boys Town youth have Ten days after graduating, Messmore’s journey to Iraq began with gone on to serve in the military throughout the organization’s basic training in Fort Benning, Ga. After four months of training 89 year history. www.boystownalumni.org From the Executive Director Dear Alumni, kind donations support the Home. We are opening four new homes in I can’t believe the Many alumni have shared their fond Washington, D.C., and shelters in summer is already gone. recollections and humorous stories of Compton, Calif., and Chicago. Father A slight chill is in the their times here. This is so essential in Flanagan’s vision is our guide and you are evening air and it feels helping preserve the Home, its history, the proof that what he did is working. like autumn is about to and the legacy of Father Flanagan and God bless you and your families each spring its beauty and all the previous Executive Directors. and every day. You are in our daily color on our homes here and across the For this I thank you. If you have some prayers here in the Village of Boys country. recollections you would like to share, Town. The boys and girls are back in school, please send them to me. We will add and they had a wonderful summer. them to our archives in the Hall of Peace, Working on the farm, vacationing at History so future generations of alumni Lake Okoboji and going to summer can know their roots and your legacy. school are just some of the things that Just mail them to: have filled their young lives as they build the memories of their youth — just Father Steve Boes like you did. 14100 Crawford Street My first year as the National Executive Boys Town, NE 68010 Director has been filled with the joy of Father Steve Boes learning about our great kids and the Keep us all in your prayers as we National Executive Director wonderful people across America whose continue to grow to help more children. Girls and Boys Town From the BTNAA President Editor Robb Giambrone Dear Brothers and Sisters, Sarah Cambridge, our Alumni Director, Graphic Designer At our last board meet- is deeply involved in bringing records up to Eli Hernandez ing, your National Board date and working on the Association’s web- Contributing Writers of Directors became aware site. Maintaining current alumni addresses Anthony Blue that our association has not is another difficult task that can be made Katina Gordon compiled a coherent history easier if we all take personal responsibility Tom Lynch to reference. Collectively, to notify the alumni office of our updated Suzie Schierbrock members discussed the matter and asked Vice information. As we continue developing our Alumni Advisors President Ron Fisher if he would undertake Alumni Association, and as we have more George Buckler ’64 the task of being Alumni Historian. Ron contact with each other, the stronger our Sarah Cambridge ‘92 agreed to accept this task if he received help bonds become. John Mollison ’64 from alumni in gathering past information. With the 90th anniversary of Girls and Edwin Novotny ’43 Our association was formed in 1951, and Boys Town coming next year, the more Stan Struble ’68 documenting our history has been difficult. knowledge we have about our alumni can Printer New methods of information storage create only serve to validate Father Flanagan’s Girls and Boys Town Print Shop a great opportunity for us. Many alumni vision and the organization’s principles and h have been involved and served as BTNAA methods. The Alumni News directors since our founding. They can be a Stay well, and stay in touch. is published by direct help, as some may have kept files from when they served as officers. We can all help Your Brother, Girls and Boys Town by providing information about classmates 14100 Crawford St. Boys Town, NE 68010 and friends. I know we will all help if pos- sible; your National Board appreciates Ron [email protected] accepting this task and will help as much as Bob Nelson 1-800-345-0458 it can. President (402) 498-1150 Fax: (402) 498-1159 2 ALUMNI NEWS www.boystownalumni.org Father Flanagan’s Home 1920s Style From the living room to the bedroom, Town,” welcomed such distinguished guests The most recent changes to the house the 1920s lives on in Father Flanagan’s as Spencer Tracy, who portrayed Flanagan include replacement of the heating and original house. in “Boys Town,” and Will Rogers. air conditioning system, stripping of old Built in 1927, the red brick Georgian In 1941, Father Flanagan left the home damaged wallpaper, and repainting the style structure is one of the oldest on Home to the De La Salle Christian Brothers who home in its original interior color. Campus. Although its red brick exterior removed most of the walls on the first level The back portion of the house, which survived the times, the interior did not. and converted the second floor into smaller was the Christian Brother’s bedrooms, has “It’s important to renovate the house so apartments. As time passed, employees undergone a final transformation. The first people can better understand and gain the and campus organizations occupied and floor now includes the Father Flanagan spirit of Girls and Boys Town,” said Tom modified the home. Meditation Chapel, Father Flanagan’s Lynch, manager of the Hall of History and In 1976, a decision was made by recreated office and a replica of a 1930s the Father Flanagan House Museum. “Also, Monsignor Robert Hupp, former Executive dining room. it’s important to preserve the home because Director, to restore the home because of The last phase of renovation began it’s the touch stone for Father Flanagan.” its significant meaning to Girls and Boys this summer when 2006 graduates Johnny Much of the renovation was made Town. The National Park Service declared Hameed and Rodney Harpe began possible by many alumni who contributed the home a National Historical Landmark reconstructing the second floor. Second both time and money. Those who in 1986. floor rooms will feature a dormitory, a contributed are recognized with plaques in The Father Flanagan House now Christmas setting from Father Flanagan’s the home’s chapel.