Three men who received their diplomas — Paul J. Michael ’45, Charles E. Ferguson ’42 and John P. Donahue, Jr. ’45
11/11/10 – Providence, RI – As it did last year, La Salle Academy held a very special Mass and diploma ceremony at the school on Veterans Day on November 11, 2010 and more than 125 friends, family members and former students were welcomed to the school by La Salle Principal and master of ceremonies Donald J. Kavanagh (Class of 1969).
La Salle has continued in its search to find men who left La Salle in good standing before graduating to enter the military during WWII so they could be honored with diplomas on Veterans Day. This year the school found nine such men — three of whom are still living and six who have since passed on — and awarded diplomas to them or their families. Last year La Salle awarded 25 diplomas, six to men who are still living and 19 to family members of those who have passed.
Those men who are still with us who received diplomas this year are Charles E. Ferguson (Class of 1942), John P. Donahue, Jr. (Class of 1945) and Paul J. Michael (Class of 1945).
Those men who are no longer with us who were awarded diplomas are Thomas C. Collins (Class of 1942), George E. Rigney (Class of 1942), Edward R. Martin (Class of 1943), Arthur H. Bellemore (Class of 1944), Francis M. Hames (Class of 1944) and Edward J. Dunphy (Class of 1945).