The Citadel War Memorial to honor fallen alumni
November 2, 2016
Groundbreaking ceremony to be held during Homecoming 2016
Citadel alumni have proudly served in every national conflict since the Mexican War, and now close to 175 years later, those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service will be eternally honored on campus. In recognition of its 50th reunion and in collaboration with the college administration and The Citadel Foundation, The Citadel Class of 1967 has funded the $1 million construction of The Citadel War Memorial.
The Citadel War Memorial will offer a solemn gathering place for cadets, students, alumni, faculty, staff and visitors to honor and pay respect to The Citadel’s fallen heroes. Groundbreaking for the war memorial will begin during Homecoming 2016 on Friday, Nov. 4 at 3 p.m. along the Avenue of Remembrance between Summerall Chapel and Mark Clark Hall.
“The creation of The Citadel War Memorial has been a vision of The Citadel and the Class of 1967 for many years,” said Lt. Gen. John B. Sams, Jr., member of the Class of 1967 and chairman of The Citadel Board of Visitors. “I am pleased that this vision is finally coming to fruition and that we are able to honor all Citadel alumni who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Situated in front of the Thomas D. Howie Memorial Bell Tower and Columbarium, and adjacent to Summerall Chapel and Gen. Mark W. Clark’s gravesite, the war memorial will have iron gates leading visitors into an interior courtyard, where black granite walls will display descriptions of The Citadel’s involvement in wars and conflicts since 1846.
“Our class suffered the most casualties in Viet Nam, and we started thinking about how many Citadel alumni have perished in conflicts serving their nation and how we could best honor them,” said Lt. Gen. W. Michael Steele, member of the Class of 1967 and former chairman of The Citadel Board of Visitors. “They have done their duty, they have served with honor, and we needed to do something on campus to respect their service and sacrifice.”
Names of The Citadel’s fallen will be etched under each respective conflict beside the names of other fallen alumni along the granite walls. Benches will be placed around the courtyard to encourage remembrance, reverence and reflection.
Designed by The Citadel’s resident architect, John E. Gardner, a Viet Nam veteran, the memorial will bear the names of Citadel alumni who have fought in every U.S. national conflict since 1846. To appear on the wall, a Citadel alumnus has to have died in service of the U.S. armed forces or during the Civil War. Criteria for name inclusion are listed here.
Contributions may be made to The Citadel War Memorial Fund here. A class or organization may be named a “Founding Class (or Organization)” by raising $500,000, or may be named a “Sponsoring Class (or Organization)” by raising $100,000 designated to The Citadel War Memorial Fund. The Citadel War Memorial Fund enables donors to honor the memory of fallen classmates, family, and friends in a meaningful way, while supporting the greatest needs of the college. Currently, the designated unrestricted priorities of the college are The Citadel Fund, The Citadel LEAD Plan 2018 Fund, and the Athletics Enhancement Fund.
Dedication of The Citadel War Memorial will take place during Homecoming 2017, in conjunction with the 175th Anniversary of The Citadel. For more information, please contact [email protected].
About The Citadel
The Citadel, with its iconic campus located in Charleston, South Carolina offers a classic military college education for young men and women profoundly focused on leadership excellence and academic distinction. Approximately 30 percent of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets commission as officers in every branch of U.S. military service upon graduating. Citadel alumni have served the nation, their state and their communities as principled leaders since the college was founded in 1842. The Citadel Graduate College offers more than 70 graduate degrees, graduate certificates, and evening undergraduate programs with many courses available online. The Citadel has been named Best Public College in the South for six consecutive years, and #1 Best Public College for Veterans in the South by U.S. News and World Report, as well as the best value out of all South Carolina colleges and universities, by Forbes.
