I remember exactly where I was standing almost 30 years ago when Billy Stern's mother told me that Pedro Swenson was "front and center" in the picture of the Vietnam Memorial on the cover of The New York Times Magazine. Pedro's name is just right of the center of the fourth line below the date (3/31/85).
I didn't know Pedro as well as some, but the Pedro I knew would always have your back. I remember playing football with Pedro, specifically a game against Harritan. They were taking liberties with Bobby Sewell, which some of us felt were beyond the rules causing us to come to his assistance. After running into a referee I looked around and there next to me was Pedro in his pink shoes (he was ahead of his time) ready to stand up for his teammate. Pedro gave the ultimate sacrifice defending his country in an unpopulr war. For this I wil always remember and respect Pedro. Thank you for your sacrifice so we all have the freedom we have today.
This the first time I submitted an entry on our class site. I was just reading through our class list and especially remembering those dear friends we have lost. I stopped at Pedro Swenson. Why was this name meaningful to me? Pedro ( Pete as he liked to be called) and I became real good friends; not only in school, but outside as well. This was at a time, I might add, when it wasn't particularly popular for white guys to be friends with Negros; ( we were allowed to call African Americans Negros back then). you might remember. Any way, Pete came to me one day and asked me if I would like to hear Dr. Martin Luther King speak. He was to be in Philadelphia for a short visit. I jumper on the invite. It was one of the most memorable days in my life. I actually got the chance to shake Dr. King's hand at the end of his talk. This never would have happened had I not been friends with Pete.
Pete did not graduate with us. His family had to move across the boarder to that unmentionable township (Abington). He and his family met with the school board on more than one ocassion pleading to allow Pete to spend his senior year at CHS, even offering to pay tution so he might earn his diploma with his friends. He was denied his request. Instead of earning his H.S. diploma with strangers, he chose to enlist in the service. To this day I still hold resentment toward that board.
His favorite song, "Stormy Weather". To this day I think of Pete whenever I hear it.
this is so weird that this post popped up today...just this moring i was remenbering pedron and that i still had the letters he'd written to me...i was very sad when i heard he had died...i'm glad to read the other posts...thank you..
Andrew Egendorf
I remember exactly where I was standing almost 30 years ago when Billy Stern's mother told me that Pedro Swenson was "front and center" in the picture of the Vietnam Memorial on the cover of The New York Times Magazine. Pedro's name is just right of the center of the fourth line below the date (3/31/85).
Douglas Webb
I didn't know Pedro as well as some, but the Pedro I knew would always have your back. I remember playing football with Pedro, specifically a game against Harritan. They were taking liberties with Bobby Sewell, which some of us felt were beyond the rules causing us to come to his assistance. After running into a referee I looked around and there next to me was Pedro in his pink shoes (he was ahead of his time) ready to stand up for his teammate. Pedro gave the ultimate sacrifice defending his country in an unpopulr war. For this I wil always remember and respect Pedro. Thank you for your sacrifice so we all have the freedom we have today.
Marilyn Ford (Evans)
I lived in back of Pedro all my life. I could walk out my back door, across the yard and I woulkd be
in his. We were like brother nand sister. Ever since childhood we've known each other and always
close. I will never forget the call we got from his mother and how long it took for him to come home.
I loved him then and now. It makes me feel good to know after all these years there are some of
you that have good momoires of him.
Love you all
See you at the reunion
Marilyn
Fred Straus
This the first time I submitted an entry on our class site. I was just reading through our class list and especially remembering those dear friends we have lost. I stopped at Pedro Swenson. Why was this name meaningful to me? Pedro ( Pete as he liked to be called) and I became real good friends; not only in school, but outside as well. This was at a time, I might add, when it wasn't particularly popular for white guys to be friends with Negros; ( we were allowed to call African Americans Negros back then). you might remember. Any way, Pete came to me one day and asked me if I would like to hear Dr. Martin Luther King speak. He was to be in Philadelphia for a short visit. I jumper on the invite. It was one of the most memorable days in my life. I actually got the chance to shake Dr. King's hand at the end of his talk. This never would have happened had I not been friends with Pete.
Pete did not graduate with us. His family had to move across the boarder to that unmentionable township (Abington). He and his family met with the school board on more than one ocassion pleading to allow Pete to spend his senior year at CHS, even offering to pay tution so he might earn his diploma with his friends. He was denied his request. Instead of earning his H.S. diploma with strangers, he chose to enlist in the service. To this day I still hold resentment toward that board.
His favorite song, "Stormy Weather". To this day I think of Pete whenever I hear it.
Kathleen Seltzer
this is so weird that this post popped up today...just this moring i was remenbering pedron and that i still had the letters he'd written to me...i was very sad when i heard he had died...i'm glad to read the other posts...thank you..
Barton Solow
Hey Pedro,
We use to sit together in class...
My ships' name during those search and rescue missions in Nam was the "SWENSON"...
Your still with me...
Rest easy my Brother...
b.