Memorial Day Tribute 25 | News | Portsmouth Abbey School, Rhode Island

From left: Library staff Mary St. Thomas, Mary Fran Vesey and Amanda Vesey pose by the display. (Not pictured: Br. Basil Piette, O.S.B.)

This Memorial Day Portsmouth Abbey School paid tribute to its fallen alumni with a moving archival exhibit on display in the St. Thomas More Library honoring the seventeen young men from the Portsmouth Priory School who gave their lives in service during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. The display, Memorial Day: Remember and Honor, is the result of a collaborative effort led by the library staff and draws from the School archives, national archives, and research databases to present the personal histories behind the names.

The exhibit was created by library director Mary Fran Vesey, assistant director Mary St. Thomas, and circulation assistant Amanda Vesey, with the support of Br. Basil Piette, O.S.B., monastery librarian. Together, they have woven together photographs, newspaper clippings, school records, and personal documents to present a rich, respectful portrait of the seventeen former students whose names are also inscribed in the Chapel of Remembrance in the Church of St. Gregory the Great on campus.

“These young men were part of our school’s earliest generations,” said Mary Fran Vesey. “They studied here, played on our fields, acted in our plays, and participated in our religious services. They are still with us in our chapel, in our archives, and now in this tribute that tells their stories.”

Each of the seventeen alumni is featured in an interactive digital display that invites visitors to learn about their lives and service. Among them is Pierre Erhard ’34, one of three brothers who served in the military. A Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient, Pierre was killed during the U.S. Army’s assault on Mt. Belvedere in Italy in 1945. His story is documented through his yearbook, post-grad communications with the School, draft card, military records, and a feature in the Boston Globe.

Edward Leahy ’37 served aboard the USS Herring, a submarine lost with all hands off the coast of Japan in 1944. His final mission, confirmed decades later by Russian divers who located the wreck, highlights the risks taken by those in the silent service.

Another poignant entry is Richard Combs ’39, a West Point cadet who came from a family steeped in military service. His father, Lt. Colonel William Combs, requested reassignment to combat duty after Richard’s death and was killed in action just four months later. The two are now buried side-by-side in Arlington National Cemetery, a family sacrifice depicted through personal letters and press accounts in the display.

While the Chapel of Remembrance provides a permanent campus memorial for these fallen Ravens, the new library exhibit offers a personal and deeply educational experience. Archival documents, original photographs, and curated stories help students and visitors connect with the real human lives behind the legacy of service.

“These were curious and idealistic students who were full of potential, just like the ones we see on campus today,” said Assistant Director Mary St. Thomas. “Thomas Price ‘47 was elected to the Cum Laude Society, Pierre Erhard ‘34 was a musician, Reginald Dussaq ‘40 spoke four languages, Edmund Roche ‘37 and Robert Glennon ‘41 both played three varsity sports. This project helps us understand the profound sacrifice they made.”

The library’s tribute, which will remain on display through the end of the academic year, encourages reflection not only on the cost of war but also on the importance of courage, integrity, and remembrance that define the Abbey community.

Above: Closer look at the display. Right: Copies of pages from the 1941 and 1943 Bulletins.