Page 64 - Alumni Horae: Vol. 93, No. 4 Summer 2013

by Jana F. Brown
Family, friends, and formmates gathered in the lobby of Memor-
ial Hall on Saturday, June 1, to remember three St. Paul’s
alumni who gave their lives in the Vietnam War. The service to
dedicate a memorial plaque in honor of Straughan Downing
Kelsey Jr. ’61, Peter Wyeth Johnson ’62, and James Hunter
Shotwell ’58 was attended by about 75 people.
The plaque was initiated by several members of the Form
of 1958, including the late Lee Patterson, who had many years
ago suggested the idea of memorializing those who lost their
lives in Vietnam.
Among those who gathered in Memorial Hall were Straughan
Kelsey’s sister, Marianne Kelsey Orestis, and Peter Johnson’s
sister, Florence “Fifi” Johnson, accompanied by her daughters,
Margot and Lila Steele. Ms. Orestis, who was located in Maine
a day before the ceremony by Ellerbe Cole ’62, said that her
brother, whom she called “Stevie,” was “never happier than
when he was a student at St. Paul’s.”
“This was his home,” she said.
Cole and Johnson were SPS roommates, sharing quarters in
the Upper, just above the apartment of faculty member Alan
Hall, for whose children Cole and Johnson frequently babysat.
Hall, who now lives in Maine, attended the dedication ceremony.
“Peter’s death was a great shock,” said Cole. “I got word two
days before I was due to ship out for active duty in the Navy.”
Ms. Johnson spoke of how her brother valued his St. Paul’s
friendships, describing that camaraderie as a wonderful resource
no matter where graduates go after their time at the School.
“St. Paul’s is a spiritual home for most of the people who
attend,” she said. “It’s nice to know that he has a place anchored
here as well as in our family’s hearts.”
Patrick Rulon-Miller ’58 researched the military service of
his formmate Hunter Shotwell. In communicating with form-
mates about the proposed Vietnam memorial, Rulon-Miller
wrote, “Hunter achieved a great deal in his short life and had
so much to live for. He lived by values that are sort of old-
fashioned – respect, courage, sacrifice, loyalty, love of country.
This selfless hero is a credit to our class.”
Rector Mike Hirschfeld ’85 addressed the attendees, thank-
ing those who inspired the School to create the memorial and
those who had come together to remember Kelsey, Johnson,
and Shotwell.
“This is a thanksgiving for how faithfully they lived the
mission of the School,” he said.
SPOTLIGHT
Vietnam Memorial Honors
Three Fallen Alumni
“FOR THE FALLEN”
They shall not grow old
as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the
sun and in the morning
we will remember them.
– Laurence Binyon
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