TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

High School Dedicates 2 Memory Walk Bricks

Tribune photo by BARBARA ROUTEN

Michelle Bragg, mother of Camden White, hugs Carmen Varga, left, mother of Jozsef Varga, during an emotional ceremony during which memorial bricks were dedicated in their sons’ honor.

ADVERTISEMENT

By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 21, 2008

BRANDON - The June 16 ceremony wasn't intended to be celebratory.

Instead, it was a time for two families united by tragedy and loss to come together and reflect as the Brandon High School Alumni Association dedicated two memorial bricks along a memory walk in the courtyard in front of the high school on Victoria Street.

The memory walk was created in 2004 to raise money for the alumni association and honor Brandon High School graduates. Over the years, the names of 117 graduates, both alive and deceased, have been added to walkways at the school and McLane Middle School on Knights Avenue, the original Brandon High School.

Among the most recent honorees were Camden Allen White and Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jozsef Varga, both killed in traffic accidents.

"It's a sad thing to think that both of them died way too young," said Brandon High Principal Leslie Granich. "But it's also an opportunity to reflect on the good memories we shared with them and to know they'll always be remembered."

White, a 15-year-old freshman, was killed Dec. 4, 2006, while crossing Victoria Street on his way to classes. His death resulted in long-awaited school crossing upgrades.

Varga, 19, a 2006 graduate, was killed in an automobile accident at Camp Pendleton, the U.S. Marine Force base in Oceanside, Calif., where he was stationed Aug. 4, 2007.

Following Varga's death, his brother, Kiel Varga, a Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy, enlisted in the Marines to defend his country in his brother's place. Kiel Varga is in basic training.

Dedication of the memorial bricks was an emotional moment for White's and Varga's mothers.

"My biggest fear is that people are going to forget my son," Carmen Varga said. "School didn't come easy to him. He wasn't the best student. But he loved Brandon High School. He had so many friends here. And one of the proudest moments of his life was the day he graduated. The second-proudest moment was when he became a Marine."

Like Varga, White also was well-liked by classmates, and a patriot. He had just joined the JROTC at Brandon High and was expected to get his private's rank bars the day he was killed.

White's mother, Michelle Bragg, expressed her gratitude to the school community for helping her to cope with the tragedy.

"It was all of you at the school, and my friends, who helped us get through this," she said. "Thank you."

Karen Rodriguez, president of the Brandon High alumni association, said that by adding the young men's names to the memory walk, members hope they will be remembered and their legacies will live on.

The memory walks at McLane Middle School and Brandon High School are updated once a year. The 4-by-8-inch pavers cost $35 and can be engraved with the name of a graduate or faculty member.

In all, 29 bricks have been added this year. The walkway includes a hall of fame featuring notable graduates and faculty. This year's hall of fame honoree was Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee.

For information, call Rodriguez at (813) 651-3261.

Neighbors columnist Barbara Routen contributed to this report. Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524 or dlwhite@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT