During a recent trip to France, students from Chaminade High School spent hours praying at the grave of a former student who lost his life heroically after the Normandy D-Day invasion.
The Long Island Catholic School’s officials found out about the tragic fate of 1935 graduate John J. McDonald just a week before their annual spring trip.
They learned that McDonald, a resident of Mineola, was killed two days after the Allied forces stormed the beaches in June 1944 and was among the many laid to rest in the large cemetery there.
“I never imagined one of our grads was buried in France,” said Brother Thomas Cleary from Chaminade.
“He was married, but he didn’t have children… I wonder if anyone has visited his grave.”
In a scramble to reorganize travel plans, the school arranged for all 30 students to pray in smaller groups, dedicating almost an hour at the grave of the Army Air Corps member whose life was taken shortly after D-Day.
Junior Andrew Kerr noted, “It’s really striking. This guy, he’s buried here… alone in a foreign land without his loved ones.” He reflected on how unimaginable it must have been, just waking up one day, heading off to war, and never returning home.
The Legacy of Heroes – 81 Years Later
While not much is known about McDonald’s life, he was an athlete on the school’s track team and had a passion for model planes before ultimately flying one himself.
He even had a role during his homecoming game, helping to build on the school’s soccer field.
Kerr mentioned, “You hear stories like this, and it feels distant. But seeing the 1935 class plaque at school shifted my perspective… it suddenly feels personal.”
Born in 1918, McDonald initially joined the Marines in 1937 but later returned to serve in the Army during World War II after a medical discharge. He got married during a holiday in 1943.
The Cleary brothers are currently on a quest to connect with McDonald’s relatives to share stories and learn more about him.
“They were just like us. It’s mind-boggling to think about,” one student said.
This experience provided insights that textbooks often miss, as the students walked through a cemetery that marks a site once filled with violence, crucial to Europe’s liberation.
Junior Dylan Stampfell shared, “In history class, it’s easy to see it as just figures. But standing before rows of over 9,000 graves, it felt incredibly humbling.”
The group also explored the beautiful coastal area, contrasting the stunning scenery with the stormy past associated with that beach.
World Language Chair Malta Agosti stated, “It’s important that students understand the gravity of what occurred there; we owe this respect to those who died.”
Junior Maximilian Matsushevsky, recalling watching “Saving Private Ryan,” mentioned that one line, “Get this,” took on a new significance for him.
“It’s about pushing myself to do my best and feeling thankful that I don’t have to endure what McDonald went through.”
