[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 136 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THE 50TH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION REUNION AT ST. AGNES HOME FOR BOYS

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                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 26, 1996

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, the St. Agnes Home for Boys in Sparkill, NY, 
was an outstanding home for orphaned boys for over 100 years. It closed 
its doors forever back in 1977, but the many boys who were raised by 
the loving Dominican Sisters of Sparkill will never forget their 
kindnesses and the outstanding lessons of life that they learned there.
  In its over 100 years of existence, thousands of orphaned and needy 
boys were reared at St. Agnes home. The home taught these youngsters 
the importance of patriotism, which is underscored by the fact that 
over 555 graduates of St. Agnes served in the Armed Forces of our 
Nation during World War II alone. It is hard to believe that any school 
so small anywhere else in the Nation could possibly have produced so 
many soldiers. Sadly, 39 of them were killed in action during that 
conflict--a record of valor which is probably unequaled.
  One graduate of St. Agnes, Gerald F. Merna, is today the vice 
president of the American Defense Preparedness Association, 
headquartered in Arlington, VA. Another is his brother James, a 
resident of Lanham, MD, who now serves as chairman of public relations 
for the St. Agnes Alumni Association. Jerry, James, and their four 
brothers all were raised at St. Agnes. Their eldest brother, George, 
was killed at the age of 19 in a sea battle during World War II.
  On August 24 of this year, the St. Agnes Alumni Association conducted 
its 50th anniversary reunion. Seventy-five alumni of St. Agnes from all 
across the Nation came to Rockland County, in my congressional 
district, to pay tribute to the sisters, and the sports coaches, who 
molded them into outstanding citizens, and to reminisce about their 
incredible experiences at St. Agnes.
  The Speaker of the House generated a great deal of controversy last 
year regarding his comments on orphanages. Here is an example of an 
orphanage which filled a community need and became a beacon for 
thousands of youngsters.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish to insert into the Congressional Record the 
newspaper article dated August 25 which appeared in the Rockland 
Journal News recounting the recent reunion:

            [From the Rockland Journal News, Aug. 25, 1996]

                  St. Agnes Alumni Celebrate Memories

                          (By Richard Gooden)

       Sparkill.--Art Kingsley provided humor, emotion and 
     nostalgia yesterday during the 50th anniversary celebration 
     of St. Agnes Alumni Association's founding. He held the 
     attention of 75 feisty people, in 85-degree heat, on the 
     grounds of the Dominican Convent.
       That was the easy part.
       In order to prepare for the day's events, the 73-year-old 
     World War II veteran and former resident of the St. Agnes 
     Orphanage used a chain saw to remove two plaques from a wall 
     of the Hallan Building. He bought a third plaque. He then dug 
     a shallow 10-by-5 bed on the lawn, filled it with gray stone 
     and embedded the plaques in a cream marble.
       ``This is a beautiful work of art,'' said James Merna, a 
     resident of St. Agnes from 1946 to 1950 and now head of 
     public relations for the alumni association. ``Art Kingsley 
     made this all happen today.''
       The corner plaques were dedicated to St. Agnes physical 
     education teacher James Faulk and the nuns who worked at the 
     home. The convent closed the orphanage in 1977.
       The plaque in the middle honored the 39 soldiers that 
     attended St. Agnes, who died in World War II and the Korean 
     War.
       Merna, a stocky round-faced man, eager to help all in 
     attendance, reminisced on the transformation from childhood 
     to manhood at St. Agnes.
       ``We went from the ballfields of St. Agnes to the 
     battlefield of World War II and the Korean War,'' said the 
     Marine veteran who graduated from Tappan Zee High School. 
     Merna challenges any orphanage to equal or eclipse the 555 
     St. Agnes residents who went on to become soldiers.
       Merna credits Faulk, who died in 1985, with shaping the 
     orphans into productive citizens. In honor of his role model, 
     Merna named his first child James Faulk.
       Pete Lawton, a resident at St. Agnes from 1940 to 1948, 
     also shared his recollections of the football coach while 
     posing for a picture beside the plaques.
       ``This man was an inspiration to us kids,'' said Lawton, a 
     Congers resident who was at the orphanage from age 6 through 
     13. ``He is the major reason why most of the St. Agnes kids 
     lived decent lives.''

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