Our brothers careers have been productive, constructive, spirited, and prosaic. They displayed impressive skills, talents, and abilities They were, and we continue to be, a beautiful and lively expression of our enduring fraternal beliefs, and that underlying harmony is far-reaching in expectation for all brothers’, undergraduate and graduate. It is the core of what our fraternal founders asserted in 1848 and 1874 and 1899: to live active, commendable, and responsible lives, and to build up community. Clearly and compellingly, they added, and continue to add, positive value at the local, state, national, global, and fraternal level because they engaged life fully and responsibly. In short, they were authoritative pillars throughout life. They were-are exemplary in their citizenship, character, and their sense of dutiful responsibility, and, in many instances, they were leading voices in their career fields. They prove that success of any kind does not occur by luck or accident, and we remember them because they continue to provide that message for our time. Their spirit permeates our brotherhood, and it always will. We have long been, from one generation to the next, proud to be Omega Mu Fijis. We continue to cherish our fraternal friendships, our shared memories, and our evolving, forward-focused history at the University of Maine. These things, above and beyond everything else, are the underlying rooted connections that make us proud to be Omega Mu Fijis. Why, after all, should we believe otherwise? We have always exhibited a can-do fraternal spirit since 1874. And, to be sure, all present and future generations of Omega Mu Fijis will continue to do the same, with fraternal enthusiasm and commitment. As a brotherhood, we always see the path behind us and the way forward with equal clarity, and our future remains bright at 79 College Avenue because we fearlessly move forward, always guided by sound fraternal principles. Perge. Omega Mu Portrait Henry S. Sims, 1918 Omega Mu Years From multiple angles, our QTV and Omega Mu brothers have enriched the civic life at the University of Maine, and we are fortunate to have had many hardworking, talented brothers throughout our history. The balance between our athletic involvement, intellectual pursuits, and campus involvement is outstanding. In each area of involvement, our brothers brought energy and enthusiasm, and one particular area where our brothers brought particular depth and color was in many wide-ranging Maine Masque theater productions. With fraternal strength, Omega Mu brothers became mainstays on the theater boards when Maine Masque was established in 1906-1907. What a long-lasting accomplishment for all of us to be proud as Omega Mu brothers. Over the years, our Omega Mu brothers have been involved in many Maine Masque productions, including Charles L. Pfeiffer, Malcolm E. Fassett, Harry Lovely, Nathan F. True, Fernando T. Norcross, Theodore W. Haskell, Charles E. Stickney, Robert Irvine, William Demant, Evans B. Norcross, J. Richard Buck, Willam Keith, Harry P. Carle, Howard L. Farwell, Jacob M. Horne, Jr.; Bryant M. Patten, Sumner Waite, Norman D. Carlisle, Paul F. Slocum, Clifford H. George, Ernest F. Andrews, Robert S. Hussey, Elwood D. Bryant, Howard J. Stagg, III; Stanley T. Fuger, John T. Clark, John W. Ballou, George R. Berger, Robert D. Parks, Arthur B. Conner, Louis H. Thibodeau, Henry S. Simms, among many, many others! Praise for them is merited. Exhibiting diligence and discipline, these Omega Mu brothers, through many decades, brought a joyful vibrancy and communal vitality to the University of Maine community. What a superb gift to give the community, rich, alive, and inspiring. Significantly, many of our Omega Mu brothers were a driving force in many of the plays because of the impactful, leading roles that they often played, luring and capturing the imagination of the audience as they moved and glided, with apparent ease and poise, on the theater boards. By all reports in the Maine Campus and the Bangor Daily, their performances were quit affecting. The quality and depth of their disciplined art form joyfully enriched the lives of countless numbers of people. Our Omega Mu Maine Masque theater brothers, just like our athlete brothers, are an enriching testament to what it means to be a fraternity brother in Omega Mu, and we are proud of their dedication, creativity, and commitment in adding such an important historic angle in our fraternal history at the University of Maine. They exemplify the good of what it means to be a positive part of the university community, and in doing so showing the good of fraternal culture. Attending a play is a special, spirited experience, and we are proud of the legacy of these brothers for their unbending commitment to the beautiful creative art and discipline of Maine Masque theater productions. These Maine Masque theater brothers make us proud, and their legacy in Maine Masque history continues to shine. They, too, like our Omega Mu athlete brothers, continue to enrich and strengthen our perseverant and determined fraternal identity, 149 years strong. Ph.D. at Columbia University Henry S. Sims career was dedicated to medical research in the fields of Aging and Arteriosclerosis at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital. “What if the space be long and wide, That parts us from our brother’s side A soul-joined chain unites our band, And memory links us hand in hand.” (Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song) Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82 Perge
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2022 marks the 147th year of our fraternal history, and we continue to forge a strong sense of fraternal purpose and identity, as the preeminent fraternal brotherhood, at the University of Maine. In short, we remain the flagship fraternal brotherhood at the University of Maine. That is a fraternal fact, not fraternal fantasy. All of this we know. It is a great fraternal narrative, and our fraternal brothers, our rich history, and our historic fraternal home give us just cause to be grateful and thankful. In example, thought, and action, we are a resourceful brotherhood; we make things happen, and we still do. We have survived and endured through many historical circumstances, and we will continue to persevere. The three words that do not exist in our fraternal DNA are abdication, resignation, or renunciation. We do not give up. We have always embodied fortitude and loyalty. No brother is more important than the whole, and it has been that way since our founding in 1874. It is not improper to state, theologically speaking, that we are all courageously faithful. With a very down-to-earth fraternal attitude, when the odds are not encouraging, we collectively enflesh what George Washington succinctly stated: “Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.” A beautiful old truth that fittingly describes our fraternal brotherhood because cannot is a word that we do not know in our fraternal history. Everything we fraternally believe comes down to, in the end, the collective fraternal care we exhibit towards each other, knowing our rich history, and taking care of the Castle. These are the fraternal qualities that have made us last for 147 years. More than anything, these three things continue to create our enduring meaning and purpose of fraternity amongst men, 147 years on and growing stronger at the University of Maine. We never stop moving forward. It is our fraternal heritage since 1874. The brotherhood and fraternal home that we love today is due to the linked, collaborative, and tireless efforts of generations of men, and it is an honor to be part of it. The many brothers who come back for Pig Dinner represent a small part of the sum total of fourteen plus decades of our fraternal history, and we have great expectations that our fraternal history will continue for another 147 years at the University of Maine. We have persevered through three tiresome and tedious years, and we are more than a little pleased to be coming home to the Castle for Pig Dinner this April. The rich festivity and sound of our Pig Dinners creates a unity of sentiment and joy that explicitly shows all three of these beliefs binding us together, and it will be shown again this April. It is always a memorable gathering of generations of Omega Mu Fiji Brothers, and our rich fraternal tradition of Pig Dinner will continue on April 30th. It is the great collective expression of our Phi Gamma Delta brotherhood. Historic milestones matter in our proud fraternal history. We are the proud legacy of those first Q. T. V. brothers, and the historic map of our fraternal narrative from Munson Avenue to Fraternity Row to 79 College Avenue truly captures our authentic perseverant and determined spirit, and that spirit will be on full display in April. With fraternal pride, good cheer, joy, and gratitude, we will return to the Castle to celebrate Pig Dinner. It will be fraternally overwhelming to see the Castle full with Omega Mu Fiji brothers again. Omega Mu hospitality will be alive and well inside and outside the Castle. There will be a wealth fraternal spirit on display from Friday to Sunday. It will be genuine; it will be Omega Mu. That is our long, proud tradition as Phi Gamma Delta Fijis, and we all have much to catch-up on at Pig Dinner 2022. We will celebrate our connection with one another. We will celebrate our connection with one another. It is our greatest fraternal custom and tradition, forever unchanging, and there are no proverbs or aphorisms that adequately describe it, but I believe that Thoreau describes it the best: “What a difference, whether in all your walks, you meet only strangers, or in one house is one who knows you, and whom you know. To have a brother…How rare these things are.” Perge. Omega Mu Brothers At Pig Dinner “What if the space be long and wide, That parts us from our brother’s side A soul-joined chain unites our band, And memory links us hand in hand.” (Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song) Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82 Perge Truthfully, there is no fraternal brotherhood quite like Omega Mu at the University of Maine. We are proud of our history, and we are proud of the impressive number of fraternal brothers who played on many University of Maine athletic teams. With conviction and commitment, our Omega Mu athlete brothers brought a great deal of joy and satisfaction to the university community, creating many wonderful memories since the first baseball team was established at Maine State College in the 1870's. The worked together for the success of each Maine team, and the overall civic good of the University of Maine. The sheer number of Omega Mu athlete brothers is an unqualified triumph for the University of Maine. They each gave their best efforts on each team, and what they achieved perfectly compliments what we fraternally believe: drive and determination. It is a heady athletic legacy. Accordingly, their accomplishments claim our fraternal attention and respect. For the eminence of their athletic success; and, above all, for being our Omega Mu brothers, we are proud. Therefore, in the linked soul and spirit of our long fraternal history, we gratefully remember and celebrate our QTV and Omega Mu brothers who participated on many varsity athletic teams at the University of Maine. Their sacrifice of time was worth the effort for them and the student body at the University of Maine who watched them play. They created many warm memories since the early 1870’s. For the eminence of their athletic success; and, above all, for being our Omega Mu brothers, we are all very proud. Thoreau said it best: “What a difference, whether in all your walks, you meet only strangers, or in one house is one who knows you, and whom you know. To have a brother…How rare these things are.” How true that is, and we remain that way to this day. That is a proud fraternal legacy. Omega Mu Athlete James G. Scales, 1909 Omega Mu Years "The Mount of Laws....Hall Caine James Grindle Scales...Guilford" University of Maine Athlete University of Maine Baseball “What if the space be long and wide, That parts us from our brother’s side A soul-joined chain unites our band, And memory links us hand in hand.” (Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song) Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82 Perge Our Omega Mu brothers who served in the military are cherished and constant fraternal friends, and we would like to say thank you for the steadfast, purposeful commitment you made to our nation to defend those four freedoms we all believe in: “Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.” For those brothers who were killed in defense of these freedoms, they will always occupy a consecrated place in our linked fraternal heart because they exemplify the idea of superlative commitment, strength, and fortitude for the good to the end itself. The greatness of their collective purpose and will, on our nation’s behalf, will never be forgotten. By their “clear-eyed faith and fearless heart,” these brothers have left us a fraternal legacy that echoes what we often say about Omega Mu Fijis: “Perseverance and determination are omnipotent.” Their code of integrity, courage, duty, responsibility, and self-sacrifice on behalf of our nation is a powerful legacy that we will always be proud of as Omega Mu Fijis. Whether it was at New Orleans, Red River, Fort Blakely, Marianna, San Juan Hill, Santiago de Cuba, Chateau-Thierry, Verdun, El Guettar, Elba, Monte Della Vedetta, the Battle of the Bulge, Rabaul, Inchon, Pusan, Chosin Reservoir, Pork Chop Hill, Hue, Easter Offensive, Phu Cat, The Iron Triangle, Hamburger Hill, la Drang Valley, Bien Hoa, Khe Sanh, Rumaila, Al-Batin, Medina Ridge, Kabul, Kandahar, our Omega Mu brothers have demonstrated devotion to duty in defense of freedom and liberty. They are the stability of our nation, and we, the Omega Mu brotherhood, revere, honor, and salute their persevering and determined spirit within our great nation and our historic brotherhood. We will always honor the heroism of all of our brothers who have served in the armed forces from the Civil War to the present. Thank you. Omega Mu Veteran John H. Akoury, 1990 Omega Mu Years Military Career John Akoury was a pilot in the United States Navy, and he flew the A-6 Prowler in multiple combat missions in Iraq. “What if the space be long and wide, That parts us from our brother’s side A soul-joined chain unites our band, And memory links us hand in hand.” (Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song) Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82 Perge Truthfully, there is no fraternal brotherhood quite like Omega Mu at the University of Maine. We are proud of our history, and we are proud of the impressive number of fraternal brothers who played on many University of Maine athletic teams. With conviction and commitment, our Omega Mu athlete brothers brought a great deal of joy and satisfaction to the university community, creating many wonderful memories since the first baseball team was established at Maine State College in the 1870's. The worked together for the success of each Maine team, and the overall civic good of the University of Maine. The sheer number of Omega Mu athlete brothers is an unqualified triumph for the University of Maine. They each gave their best efforts on each team, and what they achieved perfectly compliments what we fraternally believe: drive and determination. It is a heady athletic legacy. Accordingly, their accomplishments claim our fraternal attention and respect. For the eminence of their athletic success; and, above all, for being our Omega Mu brothers, we are proud. Therefore, in the linked soul and spirit of our long fraternal history, we gratefully remember and celebrate our QTV and Omega Mu brothers who participated on many varsity athletic teams at the University of Maine. Their sacrifice of time was worth the effort for them and the student body at the University of Maine who watched them play. They created many warm memories since the early 1870’s. For the eminence of their athletic success; and, above all, for being our Omega Mu brothers, we are all very proud. Thoreau said it best: “What a difference, whether in all your walks, you meet only strangers, or in one house is one who knows you, and whom you know. To have a brother…How rare these things are.” How true that is, and we remain that way to this day. That is a proud fraternal legacy. Q. T. V. Athlete Herman F. Noyes, 1899 University of Maine Clubs and Organizations While the breezes are whisp’ring that Summer is near And all Nature rejoices in Spring, We are planting our Ivy with tenderest care, May its increase the future years bring. May it flourish and live; may it broaden and grow, Even higher its branches still climb; ‘Till covered be all of our dear-college walls Far down the long ages of time. ~as printed in The Maine Campus, May 29, 1906, "Universities, H. F. Noyes" University of Maine Athlete Herman F. Noyes, back row, football jersey unzipped, to the left of the guy wearing the bow tie. “What if the space be long and wide, That parts us from our brother’s side A soul-joined chain unites our band, And memory links us hand in hand.” (Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song) Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82 Perge |
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