Author Archives: Bill McDonald '68

Join a hike

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To work off the refreshments enjoyed at our wine country excursion, we visit the Elfin Forest Reserve in Escondido on Saturday, March 19 (1 pm), and take a hike. We’ll go on the “Way Up Trail,” described as a moderate three-mile hike (1.41 miles each way).

After, we’ll go back on the refreshment route and visit Plan 9 Alehouse in Escondido. Again, more info on the Chapter Events page.

A dozen chapter members, family, and friends gathered at the Leoness Cellars winery in Temecula on February 26. Some, you may notice, were underage.

#1 in lacrosse
Kudos to the #1-ranked BC lacrosse team, which has opened its season with six straight wins. Many of their games will appear on the ACC Network. We anticipate at least a couple of gamewatches to view the defending national champions try for two in a row.

Bowl game canceled

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The 2021 Military Bowl football game between Boston College and East Carolina University, scheduled for Monday, December 27, has been canceled.

“Unfortunately,” said BC Athletic Director Pat Kraft, “due to cases of COVID-19 rising within our program since our arrival, along with season-ending injuries, opt-outs, and transfers, we just do not have enough players to field a team.”

BC reported that more than 40 players were unavailable to play.

Wreaths Across America 2021

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Nice view from Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Point Loma. SD Eagles, from left, Lori Mahler; Joe Mahler ’74; Caitlin Mahler ’11, CGSOM’17; Ray Berube ’78; Brian Tsu ’00; Lissa Tsu ’00; Bill McDonald ’68; Mary-Lou Kiley MSW’77; Maria DeSantis ’75.

The chapter once again participated in Wreaths Across America on Saturday, December 18, honoring military veterans and their families buried or inurned at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on Point Loma. And once again, the pandemic made things complicated.

There was no offsite parking, so traffic seeking to enter the cemetery was backed up considerably. That made meeting up with chapter colleagues difficult. While nearly two dozen members registered, nine were able to find each other at the site.

There are three Boston College alumni interred in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. We were able to honor LT William Kelleher ’58 virtually last year in a video prepared by the Boston College Veteran Alumni Network.

This year, we sought to recognize Edward Marikle ’51, an Army veteran who served in World War II. Marikle and his wife are inurned at Fort Rosecrans. Wreaths are not permitted at the urns. We were able to locate the plaque identifying the Marikle urns and gathered there. Brian Tsu ’00 led us in prayer to honor Edward and Dora Marikle.

TSGT Marikle was a native of Greater Boston. Following Army service, he graduated from then A&S as a math major. We have identified whom we believe to be his daughter as a resident of La Mesa, but have been unable to contact her. One could assume Marikle and his wife spent their later years in the San Diego area, hence their inurnment at Fort Rosecrans.

BC alumni participate in Wreaths Across America at several locations across the country, most significantly at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, as well as at national cemeteries in Bourne, Mass., and other locations.