Tommy Lee ‘10 lived out the Pillar of Unity in France, where he reconnected his family’s past and the townspeople who work to memorialize the great sacrifices of fallen American WWII soldiers.
Can you briefly describe your latest trip to France?
I had the opportunity to live in Paris for a year a few years ago. While I was there, I did some research on our family history. We knew that my dad had an uncle who died during WWII in a plane crash on September 11, 1944 but did not know much else. I was able to find the chapel where the plane he was in hit and the field where the plane crashed, which is in a small town outside of Lyon, France. This chapel has become a memorial site for the American soldiers who died in that crash, and the townspeople formed a group called the Friends of the Chapel who maintain this site. I should mention that no one in the association has any relations to the 15 American soldiers who died in the plane crash, they uphold this tradition as a way to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their freedom. They hold a memorial ceremony at the chapel every other year. I was invited to speak at this ceremony two years ago, and my parents and I made a return trip this year. The entire experience has been surreal and very special for our family. The kindness and gratitude shown towards our family (and all American soldiers and citizens) by the association is something I’ll never forget.
How do you carry your Nazareth education with you as an adult?
The Nazareth Pillar that I would most associate with this is the Pillar of Unity. It is a very powerful thing to see the work that the Friends of the Chapel do to uphold the memory of these American soldiers who gave their lives during the war. It shows the Unity between these countries. I experienced this first hand with how gracious and hospitable the Friends of the Chapel were to my family and me while we were there. It was a great honor to be able to not only visit this site, but also to be invited back as a guest for multiple ceremonies now and build relationships with these people that I would have never known without this experience.
What is your best wish for Nazareth Academy on the occasion of our 125th Anniversary?
My wish for Nazareth is that the legacy and reach of the school continues to grow. I made a lot of great friends at Naz who I am still very close friends with to this day. I am grateful that Naz brought us all together. I hope that the current Nazareth students know how lucky they are to be making lifelong friendships.