Holy Cross Class of 1965 Remembers
Capt. John Joseph Burke

Holy Cross Photo of John J. Burke

At the Class of 1965 30th Reunion, the members planted a Weeping Mulberry Tree and held a brief dedication ceremony to say a few prayers, say warm words of recollection and honor our classmates Tom and John.

At the 35th Reunion, two members of the current Memorial Committee went back to visit the spot and remember our classmates.  Upon arriving, they learned that no plaque was in place to commemorate why the tree had been planted which was to recognize the sacrifice of Tom Gilliam and John Burke.  This led to the formation of an ad hoc committee to petition for a suitable memorial adjacent to the mulberry tree.  The committee approached the President of Holy Cross, Fr. Michael McFarland, SJ who authorized a policy waiver to permit a plaque of remembrance near the tree.  While working simultaneously with the Holy Cross staff and a plaque maker, the committee set out to locate the family members of our classmates who died over 35 years ago.  With the help of a sympathetic Ohio newspaper woman and the use of e-mail, both the Burke and Gilliam Families were found.  We are pleased that Mrs. Ester Gilliam, Tom's mother, and Ms. Toni Healy, Tom's aunt are able to join us from the Cleveland area as well as John Burke's daughter, Kelly and his brothers Joe and Jim from Massachusetts.

The memorial bronze plaque sits atop a granite post adjacent to the tree so that current and future generations of Holy Cross students may know that two men from the Class of 1965 chose service to our Country and, sadly, paid the ultimate price.  May this plaque serve to salute our fallen comrades and remind us always of their sacrifice.  May Tom and John continue to rest in peace.

The plaque reads as follows . . . 

This Weeping Mulberry Tree planted by the Class of 
1965 in memory of our classmates who gave their 
lives in service to our Country in the Viet Nam War.


LTJG THOMAS E. GILLIAM
USN
22 AUGUST  1967
CAPT JOHN J. BURKE
USMC
5 FEBRUARY 1968


WAR IS AN UGLY THING

WAR IS AN UGLY THING
BUT NOT THE UGLIEST OF THINGS
THE DECAYED AND DEGRADED STATE
OF MORAL AND PATRIOTIC FEELING
WHICH THINKS THAT NOTHING IS WORTH WAR
IS MUCH WORSE.

A MAN WHO HAS NOTHING FOR WHICH
HE IS WILLING TO FIGHT
NOTHING HE CARES ABOUT MORE
THAN HIS OWN PERSONAL SAFETY
IA A MISERABLE CREATURE
WHO HAS NO CHANCE OF BEING FREE,
UNLESS MADE AND KEPT SO
BY THE EXERTIONS OF BETTER MEN THAN HIMSELF.

English Philosopher John Stuart Mill, sometime in the 18th century

 

 

The Weeping Mulberry tree, granite pedestal and plaque, and from left:
John's brother Joe Burke, daughter Kelly Burke Holland, and brother Jim Burke

Information provided by:
J. Paul Giuliani, Holy Cross classmate of Cap. Burke, who was commissioned as
Ensign, USN, the same day John J. Burke was commissioned Second Lieutenant, USMC.
 

Capt. John J. Burke's History Index

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