Holy Name Parish creates youth service award
in soldier's memory

By Mary Ann Wyand

BEECH GROVE—Holy Name of Jesus parishioners in Beech Grove are honoring the memory of Army Pvt. Cory R. Depew, who was killed on Jan. 4 near Mosul, Iraq, with a distinguished student service award in his name.

The Holy Name Men’s Club recently awarded the first annual Army Private Cory R. Depew Freedom Award to Holy Name eighth-grader Tony Bell of Beech Grove for exemplary service to the parish, school and community.

Holy Name parishioner Sheryl Ann May of Beech Grove, Depew’s mother, said the new award, which will be given annually to an eighth-grade boy in the parish, recognizes her son’s love and dedication to God, family and country as well as the ultimate sacrifice of his life.

“It touches me so deeply,” May said, “… to know that the people in this church and the community will remember Cory forever. It will help to keep him alive in our hearts, which he will always be, but it’s not just us who remember him. Everybody remembers Cory, and it helps to know that he died for a reason.”

May’s younger sons, Wyatt and Elliot May, are Holy Name students.

Last fall, when Depew was home on leave, he helped landscape the new parish peace garden and spoke to students in his brothers’ classes.

“We’re also going to have a place in the peace garden in his memory,” May said. “There’s going to be a bench, with some trees around it, for praying. The bench will have a plaque stating that it was given in memory of Cory. I wanted to contribute something to the peace garden in remembrance of Cory’s volunteer work there.”

Holy Name School principal Kent Schwartz of Indianapolis said all of the school’s 260 students are exceptional in their own ways, and that Tony Bell, the first award recipient, has distinguished himself by his leadership, willingness to help others and commitment to academic excellence.

“I think the award speaks to our mission at Holy Name School and what an education here means,” Schwartz said. “It is more than academics. It’s about leadership in the classroom and the church, and good stewardship.”

Schwatz said the award given in Depew’s name “reflects on what Cory exemplified—his service to others—as a volunteer in the parish. He understood the importance of helping ­others.”

Depew also exchanged letters with second-grade and fifth-grade students in his brothers’ classes during his deployment in Iraq.

The son of Scott and Kimberly Bell, Tony has attended Holy Name School for nine years. He will begin his freshman year at Roncalli High School in Indianapolis in the fall, and plans to try out for the wrestling team.

“My goals for high school are to pass every class,” Tony said, “and look for ways to help people.”

Father Gerald Burkert, pastor of Holy Name Parish, said he appreciates the Men’s Club recognition for a fallen son of the parish who enthusiastically served his country.

“It’s a great honor to have an award named for Cory,” Father Burkert said. “He gave up his life doing what he wanted to do, and for younger people to see his example of commitment and giving of himself to help other individuals is very good. It will be an ongoing memorial for him.”

The Men’s Club also honors a man in the parish each year for distinguished service to the parish and community.

That award, named for former teacher and Beech Grove City Council member August W. Seyfried, is given to the man who “exemplifies himself in the principles, concepts and philosophy of Catholic family living” and demonstrates outstanding volunteer service. It has been presented annually for 16 years.

The 2005 recipient, Holy Name parishioner Jim Huser of Beech Grove, has been a member of the parish for 52 years and volunteered in a variety of ways during the past five decades.

“I’ve done a lot of things at the parish,” Huser said, “but … I think there’s a lot of people who deserve the award a lot more.”

Tony also expressed surprise about receiving the youth service award for “just helping out whenever I can” at the parish and school.

“I didn’t really say much when I received the award,” Tony said, “because I was kind of surprised. I just hope I can give as much as [Depew] did to help ­others.” †