March 25 marks the 272nd birthday of Commodore John Barry. Members and friends of Brooklyn’s Commodore Barry Club held a special tribute to the Revolutionary War hero in his eponymous Fort Greene park this month.

Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Martin Maher attended the festivities, which included musical interludes by Donal Nolan on the tin pipe, an invocation offered by Agnes Neulinger and the singing of the Irish and American national anthems, led by John Houlihan.

During the ceremony, club members also recognized the winners of an essay contest on Commodore Barry. High schoolers were asked to write how the Irish-born naval commander is a man for all ages and identify three characteristics he exemplified, based on the students’ own personal study of his life.

The winners were: Kristin Gnoza of Fontbonne Hall Academy, Bay Ridge, first place; Gavin Cogan of Westfield H.S., Westfield, N.J., second; and Luke Proscia of Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge, third. Winning essays were selected by committee members, including Ed Clinton, chair; Anne Marie Wedlock and John Murray.

Students read their essays and Councilman Vincent Gentile presented the winners with citations. The young people then joined Mary Lennon, club vice president, in laying a red, white and blue wreath on the Commodore Barry Memorial.