Victory Bell still rings, 60 years later
The sound of the Victory Bell echoes through the hallways after a Crusader victory in athletics or extra-curricular activity.
January 8, 2020
Victories are always seen as a step forward for Archbishop Riordan as a whole. Whenever any sports team wins an event such as the football or basketball team, the Victory Bell is always rung.
The school’s greatest moments and achievements are recognized with a ringing of the bell, located outside of Room 105. Looking at the Victory Bell, one can see a special typed note explains the history of the bell, which came from a World War II Ship, which took part in the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 8, 1942.
It all started when Ron Modeste, Mark Modeste’s father, began coaching right after graduating from Santa Clara University in 1955. As he began his career as a coach at Archbishop Riordan, he saw the kids playing football at the time were “lacking firepower,” Coach Modeste said. So, he decided to attain something special so the students can get excited about football.
“The bell was originally supposed to be only for football, but Brother Maurice rang the bell for everything.”
His first thought was to get a bell that would ring whenever thefootball team won a game. He then got in touch with the Principal, Brother Maurice Miller, a.k.a “The Shark,” and told him the school needed a bell that would get the students excited about the game of football. Ron Modeste said, “Then, a week later he got the bell. I have no idea from where or how he got it, but he got it.”
The way Brother Maurice received the bell will always remain a mystery, but the history behind the bell is historically true. Taking a closer look at the bell, there is a phrase engraved on it “No atheists in fox holes.”
The bell remains as one of Archbishop Riordan’s greatest historical momentos in relation to the school’s pride and spirit. Many of Riordan’s athletes see the significance of the bell and say it means so much to them.
“It is a special feeling because the bell notifies the school of your accomplishments,” said Zachary Charelton ’20.
Maria Bastianon, Assistant to the Principal, is in charge of ringing the bell whenever Archbishop Riordan hits another milestone.
She said, “We are trying to commemorate each and every win as a school, not just the sports teams. We want to include theater and band.”
