La Salle Honors Fallen Heroes

La Salle College High School honored two fallen heroes, 1stLt. Travis Manion, USMC '99 and Lt. (SEAL) Brendan Looney, USN, on Friday evening, September 12, 2014 at the inaugural Brothers Forever Classic – a football game played at Plymouth-Whitemarsh Stadium that featured La Salle and DeMatha Catholic High School from Hyattsville, MD. The game honored the memory of Travis Manion and Brendan Looney (who is a graduate of DeMatha). The two were athletes (both played football in high school), soldiers, and roommates at the U.S. Naval Academy. After giving their lives for their country, they now rest side-by-side at Arlington National Cemetery – Brothers Forever.

A touching pregame ceremony paid tribute to their ultimate sacrifice and featured a U.S. Marine Color Guard and the playing of "Echo Taps" by Joe Dallas '16 and John Meko '16 as both teams lined across the field and faced the American flag. Peter Collins '15, who has applied for admission to the U.S. Naval Academy, began the ceremony with a prayer for the two school communities that reflected on service and sacrifice. The ceremony concluded with the playing of the National Anthem by the La Salle Pep Band, under the direction of Ben Weiss '15, and renditions of Anchors Away and the Marine Hymn as the Color Guard paraded off the field. At halftime, Brother James Butler, FSC, Student Council President Collin Giongo '15, and the Explorer mascot presented a check to the Travis Manion Foundation on behalf of the La Salle community.

The highly contested football game that followed came down to the final series as the Explorers' defensive stand held off the Stags and allowed them to walk away with a 41-38 victory. Kyle Shurmur '15, who was named the game's MVP, threw for almost 300 yards and four touchdowns (bringing his season total to 12). He also caught a touchdown pass from Jordan Meachum '15. The game (and pre-game ceremony) were broadcasted live by Comcast SportsNet and featured an interview with Colonel Tom Manion, USMC (Ret.), who is the father of Travis Manion and author of the book, Brothers Forever.