Kenney Legacy WWII Trip Presentations Highlight Special School Meeting

Charlie Kenney '06 arrived at Belmont Hill in 1999 and would become a talented three-sport athlete, a Woodbury Prize recipient in public speaking, and a young man devoted to serving the school he loved. After his Belmont Hill graduation in 2006, he went on to Brown University. Charlie had always felt a special love for his country and a strong calling to service, which led to his enrollment in the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School, where, as an officer, he earned the respect of his peers and demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities. But his life came to a tragic end in 2012 when Charlie suffered a seizure, just before his scheduled deployment to Afghanistan.

Charlie's parents, Charles Kenney and Anne Detmer, remain loyal members of the Belmont Hill community. In 2013, the Charles F. Kenney '06 Prize was established by classmates, family, faculty, and friends to honor his memory.  Seven years ago, the Kenneys proposed a trip to World War II sights in England, Belgium, and France, with particular emphasis on Normandy. The trip supports two faculty members and students.  The hope is that the students will learn more about World War II, and gain a greater appreciation of the tremendous sacrifices made.  

With the Kenney family in attendance at a recent chapel, the boys—Haden Bottiglieri ’24, Max Glick ’24, Cole Sparks ’24, and Luke Trevisan ’24—who traveled with Mr. Bracken and Mr. Williams on the trip, each gave poignant and reflective talks on what the journey meant to them.