DERRY — The medals gleamed silently in a nearby glass display case.
For everyone gathered at Pinkerton Academy last Friday, the shiny remainders of a life lost gave way to family ties, past friendships and many emotions.
Pinkerton Academy honored one of its own on Sept. 26 with a dedication ceremony for Maj. Albert L. Page, Class of 1953, listed as missing during the Vietnam War in 1967 and never accounted for. The school's JROTC classroom was officially named in Page's memory.
Page and his co-pilot were shot down while on a strike mission over North Vietnam in August 1967. He reported his aircraft was hit and radioed that he would eject. Page was never found and he was declared dead on June 20, 1974, leaving behind a wife and two children.
For his family and friends left behind, the memories and tears still remained close to the surface as Pinkerton honored the soldier who never came home.
The journey to bring Page's memory and service to light started several years ago, when then Pinkerton JROTC students discovered a collection of Page's medals tucked away in the school's historical archive.
The cadets did research and decided they wanted to dedicate the classroom in Page's memory and to honor his distinguished military service.
Pinkerton grad Sean Frederick, now a student at Norwich University, was one of the originators of idea. He brought along several Pinkerton graduate friends, also attending Norwich, to accompany him to the ceremony.
"The idea became reality," Frederick said. "The approval of this idea just goes beyond words. Finding those medals really helped me ground myself and to find out what I wanted to do."
State Sen. Lou D'Allesandro remembered his friend and classmate, Al Page, from his time spent at the University of New Hampshire. He said Page was a "nice guy" and good friend.
"In this life we all search for good friends and relationships," D'Allesandro said. "Life is all about relationships and relationships don't die. The relationship with Page has been a lasting part of my life. It won't die."
Wilbur Palmer spoke of his high school friend and football teammate with a few tears and said Page was not only his buddy, but someone he will never forget.
"We were a real close-knit class," Palmer said of the Class of 1953. "When Al went down, it was a real shocker to all of us."
Palmer visited the Vietnam War memorial in Washington, D.C., and found his friend's name etched in the stone.
"I always wondered why people who went to that wall cried," Palmer said, "but I found Al's name there and I cried."
President Harry Burnham, Pinkerton Academy Board of Trustees, said Page was a "genuine American patriot," setting a tremendous example for today's JROTC students at the school.
"He made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and our freedom," Burnham said. "He gave his life. He's a true American hero."
Burnham unveiled a portrait of Page during the ceremony. The case full of medals is to remain in the classroom as part of the dedication.
Mark Page said almost everything possible has been expressed about his father, adding his dad earned four distinguished flying crosses, part of his "impeccable" record of service in the Air Force. He, along with other family members, thanked Pinkerton and the JROTC program for the dedication and for keeping Page's memory alive.
Bob Morrison, Class of 1953, wrote in the school's Alumnus magazine that Al Page was a great classmate and served his country to the ultimate.
"We all miss him very dearly," he wrote.
Page's honors continued later that day as he was one of eight to be inducted into Pinkerton's Hall of Fame for 2008.
