Melrose Red Hawks Recommended Name, But Other Option Floated

MELROSE, MA — Red Hawks in, Raiders out.

That's the official suggestion from the committee tasked with recommending what to do with the Melrose's controversial moniker.

Melrose High Principal Jason Merrill said the Mascot & Nickname Steering Committee settled on Red Hawks following survey results indicating it was the most popular option. (A Patch reader survey showed the same.)

That's the recommendation. But what happens next is up to the School Committee, which will take the matter up at its March 22 meeting.

Technically, the School Committee could choose any name to replace the Raiders — or not change it at all. The other options the Steering Committee came up with were Express, Highlanders, Red & White and Trailblazers.

Another potential course of action revealed itself last Tuesday. Resident Carolyn Finocchiaro, speaking during public comment on behalf of what she said was "a large group of parents and students," urged compromise.

Finocchiaro showed an image created by Glenn Blackburn of local design store Mothership Of All Design depicting a red airplane in flight over the words "Melrose Raiders." Finocchiaro said it was a rough draft.

"By compromising on the name and creating the new mascot, we are showing today's students that our town was able to work together to keep the history of the name intact while also being thoughtful and respectful to the Indigenous people of this country," Finocchiaro said. "Kids can feel good showing up to a game or a competition named the Raiders with an airplane as their mascot and know their community made the right change."

That option appeared to pique the interest of the audience — Finocchiaro's statements were met with applause — and at least one School Committee member.

"There have been calls in our community for more opportunities to let us know what people think and there is some information tonight that has come before us that we will think about — and always happy to hear from the community," Margaret Driscoll said. "So I would invite us not to rush and to be thoughtful about when we do this."

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi and Instagram at Melrose Happening. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.