Early Thursday morning, Manual students and staff gathered for the annual funeral for the Male Bulldog. Dressed in mourning clothes, holding flowers, tissues and hands in grief, the audience was filled with emotion.
Students began to gather in the school’s auditorium at 7 a.m. to await the funeral procession and the eulogy given by Marcell Malone (12, HSU).
Right at 7:10 a.m., the trumpet sounded with the playing of “Taps.” Trumpeter Colin Selch (12, YPAS) led the funeral procession, with the members of Manual’s Executive Council following closely behind. Anthony Northington (12, HSU) held a framed portrait of the bulldog, followed by some members holding its casket and all the others holding tissues as they proceeded to the front of the audience.
The echoes of sobbing could be heard across the auditorium. Walking down the aisles, Executive Council members gathered at the foot of the stage, where Malone gave a heartfelt eulogy.
“I just wanna take a moment and thank God,” Malone said. “But the real thing on our minds is, is it bulldog or bullcrap?”
After more sobbing, heartfelt thoughts and a “Can I get an amen?” from Malone, the funeral came to an end.
Manual will play against Male tomorrow night in the Old Rivalry Game to honor the loss of the Bulldog, and in remembrance of just how much better the Manual Ram is.
