Hall of Fame Introduction Remarks May12, 2005

Good afternoon to the faculty, students, distinguished honorees and their families, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Today it is my pleasure to introduce a woman who in my view embodies the very spirit of Little Flower’s mission statement-- my Mother- Alice V. McCormick. Her lifetime of service to others both civically and globally, as well as her spiritual, academic. and professional accomplishments have provided me with a glimpse of just how influential her early years at Little Flower were for her.

It isn’t often that a son gets the opportunity to return to his Mother’s High School, let alone introduce her in the very auditorium where her hopes, her dreams, her future, and indeed character were pondered and developed—so the magnitude of this moment is not lost on either my self or my four brothers today. With this in mind, I decided to fly from Florida with my daughter Sophia to be here today to introduce my Mom because of how proud I am of her.

I’m quite sure if anyone were to ask my Mother what the proudest or most meaningful accomplishment was in her life, she would respond by saying it was her being blessed to have had five healthy sons, all of whom she enjoys equally diverse and vibrant relationships with; as we all represent a different period in her life-professionally, spiritually, and educationally speaking.

Several years ago I was fortunate enough to travel to Central America to see my Mother in Honduras where she was serving in the Peace Corps – honoring a commitment made to herself some 40 years earlier-- a dream delayed, yes—forgotten, no.

Throughout this incredibly hot and un air-conditioned week I strolled around Alice’s pueblo meeting it’s people and documenting everyday life with my camera while amusing the townsfolk with my Spanish skills. As luck would have it, this was the week my Mother’s class was to begin teaching to the town’s 8th grade boys and girls. I welcomed this event as a real opportunity to see the “altruistic” Alice at work.

The class My Mom had chosen to teach was on issues that all teenagers-- regardless of nationality, ethnicity, social position, or gender will face—Issues such as peer pressure, self esteem, respect for one’s self, and for even more importnatly-- for others.
I knew that the “Mother” Alice was to her own five sons, would enable her to connect to these teenagers as well regardless of language or cultural barriers, so I sat back and got ready for the show.

Much to my surprise, soon after the class began I realized the person I was seeing through my camera lens was NOT my Mom—instead I was seeing what these children were seeing- a confident, caring, and devoted bilingual woman. Here I was in the middle of Honduras in a tropically sun-bathed classroom in October, with my Mom conducting her class completely in Spanish- and the kids loved it. I was never so proud, nor was I ever so sure that my Mom was indeed in the right place at the right time. Despite all of us missing her at home, I knew that our loss was to be this small town’s blessing.

This is the Alice McCormick I know—caring, giving, compassionate, yet tough when she needs to be. Like many things in life—perception never quite equals reality. And I believe Alice’s perception of herself has never really balanced with how her many friends and family have seen her. My Mom has adopted a much more modest view of her herself and of her service to others-- as opposed to the often glowing admiration those in her life have for her, myself included.

So in many ways Mom this day represents validation—more to you than to us. Validation for what WE your family and friends have known and said for years-- that you are to be commended for your dedication and service to the many people that your service to has altered, impacted, and enriched their lives. Your lifelong positive messages have not been lost on your five sons or your six grandchildren—who all see in you the example and the result, of hard work, reaching for your dreams, and most importantly never, ever giving up.

And so ladies and gentlemen, faculty, students and distinguished honorees-- it is with immense pride, love, and respect I present to you My Mother, my friend-Alice Veronica McCormick LFCHS for Girls class of ’57.