What is a fraternity all about? What made you want to join? What are some memories looking back now that stand out to you about the meaning of Lambda Chi Alpha? Thanks to these men for writing in about the true meaning of a fraternity.
“While passing the gavel at brothers’ meetings was always great, my two best memories of my years in the house were our weekly Pipes & Gripes sessions and my favorite – the Battlefield Tour during pledging.” – Matthew Nielsen ’94
“I worked for two years and then did two years in the Army, including one year in Korea, before entering college, so I was as old as the seniors. I was reminded by the LXA President in my pledge year of 1956 that notwithstanding my ‘advanced age,’ I was expected to respect the brothers as I did my meal service and other work as a pledge. It was a good learning experience that I carried forward in my life. My experience as a Lambda Chi Alpha brother was a very memorable part of my great four years at Gettysburg College.” – Norman H. Henry ’60
“Lambda Chi Alpha makes great men better, and I know that I am indeed a better man.” – Hugh McStravick ’09
“When I was social chairman, we were decorating the house for the Christmas judging, etc. I, along with a couple of brothers, went out into ’the woods’ late one night and cut down several fir trees to use in our decoration theme. The next morning, in the light of day, I noticed on the bottom of one of the trees a bronze plaque which read ’First Prize, Adams County Fair, Dwight, and Mamie Eisenhower.’ Needless to say, I thought the police would swoop down and cart me away! Now, as I look back on the adventure, I can only kick myself for having disposed of the plaque so that there was no evidence that could link me to the crime. What a keepsake that could have been.” – Richard “Mitch” Mitchell ’62
[In 2012] “I came back for the 45th reunion of our Class of ‘67 and visited with the brothers at the chapter house. What impressed me the most were the current brothers that I met. Each and everyone was a tribute to the traditions of a Lambda Chi. I was impressed by their warmth, congeniality, and especially their intellect. Keep up the good work or we will have Mrs. ‘B’ return and whip you guys into shape.” – Ken Henyan ’67
“My kids have been fortunate to meet some of my fraternity brothers. They have seen how close of a friendship some of us still have, which is a great testament of the bond that was developed over four years at Gettysburg.” – Rodd Ruland ’79
And this quote from a brother who graduated 100 years ago. Although he has gone on to the Chapter Eternal, his words are living today: “At the start, we had no well-known fraternity name, no large body of alumni, no wealth, no house in which to live. We demonstrated, nonetheless, what the founders of the fraternity system many generations ago had shown — namely, that a true fraternity is not built of brick and mortar, but is a thing of the spirit which lives in the hearts of its members.” – Donald F. Lybarger ’19 (remarks on the occasion of the burning of the mortgage on March 15, 1958)
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