Members of American Legion Post 51 dedicate a flag in honor of Brandywine graduate Patrick Curran, who died in a motorcycle accident in July 2010. A memorial will be built next year near the flagpole to honor Curran and other Brandywine students, alumni and staff who have passed away. Daily Star photo/CRAIG HAUPERT

Brandywine High School alum Patrick Curran lost his life in a motorcycle accident more than a year ago at age 26.

Curran’s parents, Jim and Diana, gathered outside of Brandywine Middle/High School Tuesday with about 50 other people. They were there to witness members of American Legion Post 51 dedicate a flag in the memory of Patrick and other Brandywine alumni and staff who died too soon.

Jim, a member of the school’s board of education, said a memorial would be constructed in front of the school to honor members of the Brandywine family that have passed away.

The flag dedication was the first phase of the memorial project.

“We thought it was a good way to recognize people from Brandywine who aren’t with us anymore,” Jim said.

Construction of the memorial is expected to begin in the spring. Jim said the memorial would be made of brick in an octagon shape around the flagpole on the southwest side of the school.

The names of Brandywine students, alumni, teachers and staff who have passed can be memorialized on plaques on the bricks.

Jim said the plan for the memorial is still being finalized.

Patrick Curran graduated from Brandywine in 2002 and was a member of the school’s baseball team that won a district title in 2002.

The school retired Patrick’s No. 34 baseball jersey last year.