Kenney Legacy Trip Offers Students a Transformative Journey Through WWII Landmarks

The Kenney Legacy Trip, named and funded by the family of the late Charlie Kenney '06, honors his memory and strives to impart his love of country and reverence for Americans' military service and sacrifice. According to the Kenney family, the idea that students can learn profound lessons about history by visiting sites such as the Normandy beaches serves as the program's foundation. “Charlie’s passionate dedication to his country and love of World War II history reflect the guiding principles of the program,” said Greg Schneider when introducing the morning’s speakers. “The program is born of Charlie’s deep belief in the essential role of the military, the honor in serving one’s country, and the importance of understanding history. Each year, the boys share with our community the lessons learned.”

With the Kenney family members (his parents Anne Detmer and Charlie Kenney, and his sister Elizabeth) and schoolmates (Wes Stephanian ’06 and Kevin McNamara ’07) in attendance at a recent chapel, the boys who traveled with Mr. Zellner and Mr. Williams on the trip each gave reflective talks on what the journey meant to them.

The trip began in Paris, heading first to Normandy for a guided tour of D-Day sites at Omaha and Utah beaches. “For the first time in my life, I was completely in the moment, taking in what had occurred over 70 years ago,” said Cam Kelley ’26. “It made me appreciate the kind of privilege I have as an American and the privilege to go on this trip, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity provided by the Kenneys.”

From there, they traveled up the northern coast of France to Dunkirk, stopping to visit the Operation Dynamo museum. Dunkirk is famous for its role in World War II, when Allied troops were heroically evacuated from the city in an operation codenamed Dynamo. “Dunkirk was a somber yet eye-opening location to visit,” said Davis Woolbert ’25. “I enjoyed walking along the beaches and reading the stories inside the museum.” From there, they visited the beaches of Zuydcoote, where bunkers remain.

In Belgium, they visited the battlegrounds of Bastogne and the Ardennes Forest. “The forest is filled with foxholes dug by American troops that you can still see to this day,” said Preston Evans ‘25. “An eerie feeling surrounded the forest, and the fact that battles were fought here demonstrated the true totality of the war. Everywhere we walked was a potential place where American blood was shed. The enormity of this was unsettling to all of us,” he added. The visitors then took in the sites at Mardasson Memorial, which honors the memory of American soldiers wounded or killed during the Battle of the Bulge.

On their way back to Paris, they visited the Notre Dame Cathedral in Reims and the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Belleau, built in memory of American casualties during World War I. “Visiting the cemetery was the most moving part of the trip for me,” said Preston. “I couldn’t fathom the number of lives lost… After walking around, we stood in silence. It was then that I felt a profound sense of sadness and pride for our country.”

In Paris, the travelers also visited the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower (decorated for the Olympics), and the Liberation Museum. “Being able to see how what was once a battlefield not so long ago could become one of the most beautiful and most visited places in the world—the weaponry, historical monuments, and of course the soldiers’ sacrifice—were the reasons I think all of us applied for the trip. I felt the weight of history all around the city,” said Brady Paquette ‘25. 

The travelers then went to London to see the usual tourist sites: the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, London Eye, home of the Arsenal Football Club, and Westminster Abbey. Keeping with the theme of the trip, they visited the Imperial War Museum, which has dedicated exhibits on World Wars I and II and the Holocaust. “This was the first time history for me turned into something where the magnitude and severity of the people suffering wasn’t just a number in a textbook,” said Brady. The trip would not be complete without a visit to the Churchill War Rooms, the underground headquarters that acted as the top-secret command center where Winston Churchill determined the course of the war. “This was my favorite part of London,” Brady added. 

Cam Kelley ‘26 wrapped up the School Meeting urging students to apply for the trip. “Walking through the battlefields and seeing the memorials offers you a deeper understanding of history than any textbook could provide,” he said. “Traveling to different countries exposes you to new cultures, customs, and perspectives, helping you appreciate the interconnectedness of nations and people around the world.”

Form IV and V students are invited to apply for the trip, with applications due the day after Veterans Day. Student participants are selected through a nomination and application process each fall, with travel in June.