The American flag that marks UMass Boston’s harbor side Fox Point Gazebo wrestled through gusts of wind as members of the university paid tribute to the life and military service of U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer and UMB alumnus Kyran Kennedy.
The memorial, just two days short of the one-year anniversary of Black Hawk co-pilot Kennedy’s death while deployed in Iraq last November, was hosted by the Veterans Center, The William Joiner Center for the Study of War and Social Consequences, and Veterans Affairs. Members of the Kennedy family, administration, faculty, and students were in attendance as the Boston Police Department bagpipe column played and a bench along the harbor walk was dedicated to Kennedy’s memory.
Kennedy, who graduated from UMass Boston in 1983 with a Biology degree, was an active student during his undergraduate tenure. He was a lifeguard and member of the swim team.
“I knew Kyran because he actually worked for the Athletic Department,” said Charlie Titus, vice chancellor of Student Affairs and former athletics director. “It was an outstanding tribute to an outstanding student…He was just very active and very supportive of trying to build the Athletic Department. Beyond what Kyran accomplished after he left here…including his outstanding family life and his employment, his career in the military, we’re also really proud and really thankful for what he did as a student.”
Chancellor Keith Motley was among those who spoke at the memorial. “It was a very emotional experience for me to meet the Kennedy family and think about their sacrifice as a family for this country. It is an honor to learn about the legacy that their son had here at this university. From being someone who treated people special in the pool to being someone who just was a hard-worker in the classroom and cared about the community and loved this place,” said Motley. “I think his family was really moved by it, they were really grateful to us as a community for remembering.”
Tricia Kennedy, Kyran’s sister, was pleased with the event and thought the harbor side location of the bench was appropriate for a memorial to her brother. “It’s perfect,” she said. “That it was right here on the water…My brother loved every second of being here and he loved UMass…They couldn’t have picked a better location.”
“I thought it was important because it makes the war real,” Provost Paul Fonteyn said after the memorial. “Actually interacting with the family…it really brings it home as opposed to just reading it [in the newspaper].” Fonteyn said that the powerful winds and crisp fall weather never broke anyone’s spirit for the event. He said that the resiliency of the Kennedy family was a testament to their indominable spirit.
“UMass is a campus that’s traditionally taken in veterans and been enriched for years with students who are veterans and it’s important for us to remember,” said Kevin Bowen, director of the Joiner Center. “It’s important to recognize that war impacts us directly as a community.