to clear this all up
 

i have posted on this subject several times on these boards.

here i go again:

when i was in college i CALLED our national headquarters. to make a long story short, they MAILED me a letter stating that NO PIN IS ON THE MOON!!! they also sent me a copy of an article from the lyre about his wife when he was still married to him

THERE IS NO PIN OF ANY GREEK ORGANIZATION ON THE MOON!!!

i am going to try to find the letter and post it here later tonight.

so there is your proof!!!!!!!:D

Re: to clear this all up
 

Proof from an Alpha Chi!! Woot!

Leaving the boards over some petty arguing and opinions seems a little overboard to me. There are many thigns that people can talk about on here, many thigns that people can learn about on here, and many things that people can and will disagree on.

What do you do in the real world when you are in a constant disagreement with a co-worker, boss or something else like that? Pack up your desk and leave, no, I don't think so. We are talking about a damn forum here. If you can't deal with the opinions and arguments of others here (when you have no physical contact with them outside of this board), how in the hell do you expect to make it out in the real world?!

And I'm not trying to be rude here, but I do think that you do care on say "what time you take the pill at" because I do recall you posting your opinion and or knowledge about that in that specific thread. To me that means you care, that's all.


Puzzling, very puzzling...

Yeah, and monkeys will fly out of my butt.

Deltalum,

I often respect your opinion and in a way look up to you even though I don't know you, but you are older and wiser and I respect that. I really at this point don't care if the pin is there or not. Fine if you want to disagree on any subject. However, I think your previous post was uncalled for. When I read your posts I try to learn from your experiences and if you had posted something that I didn't agree with I may let you know but I wouldn't be sarcastic about it(unless you are an a-hole like UF-Pike-sorry after all the nasty things he has said about women I could careless if I said something sarcastic to him).


BTW I have great respect for Delts as my grandfather and uncle are both delts and I have many of my grandfathers DTD things.

Thank You!!
 

"i have posted on this subject several times on these boards.

here i go again:

when i was in college i CALLED our national headquarters. to make a long story short, they MAILED me a letter stating that NO PIN IS ON THE MOON!!! they also sent me a copy of an article from the lyre about his wife when he was still married to him

THERE IS NO PIN OF ANY GREEK ORGANIZATION ON THE MOON!!!"





Thank you Thank you Thank you cash78mere!!! Great now that we all know that its NOT true I say its time for a deep breath from everyone (including myself)...ok...breath in....and out.....now doesn't everyone feel better :D I know i do. So lets leave this topic to rest for a nice LONG time and try and do the same with the arguing. I promise to try and do my part as well :)

More Urban Legends......
 

cash78mere,
Thank you so much for clarifying that the badge on the moon is an Urban Legend.

I think we all have to bear in mind that there are a LOT of Urban Legends when it comes to GLOs.

Other legends are of course that the Library of Congress has all of the rituals....nope, not true and so many people have phoned there that the poor librarians have drafted up a form letter to address these inquiries.

Another favorite urban legend of mine is that "Betty Crocker was in ____ Sorority".
Betty Crocker was never in a sorority...in fact, she never was. The name "Betty Crocker" was invented by General Mills in 1928.
Several women (possibly with sorority ties) played Better Crocker on radio and tv spots from the 1930s to the 1950s. But old Betty herself never baked up even one loaf of bread.
(Source: "From Here to Fraternity" by Robert Egan).

And of course...my personal favorite....
"Such and such sorority is not housed because there is a civic bylaw that says x no. of women living together in a house constitutes a brothel". :rolleyes:
I have heard this from so many different campuses, that I have to say - If someone can actually show me a City Law/Ordinance that states this, I'd love to see it.

In sum...don't believe everything you hear.

lol, taken off of our University Greek site:

Nickname: AD Pi
Founded: May 15, 1851
(at VSU) December 16, 1953
Colors: White and Azure Blue
Flower: Woodland Violet
Mascot: Lion * “Alphie”
Fun Fact: Betty Crocker and Deanna Carter are both ADPis.

cash78mere, thank you for the heads up.

SigmaChiGuy, thank you for saying "monkeys will fly out of my butt." It's good to see the old standards never die.

I had emailed snopes.com a month or so ago and asked them about this, but they never added anything about it to their site. They do debunk the "Good luck, Mr. Gorsky" legend, however. :D

Re Betty C - that was in the thread about the Us magazine article. There was an early pres or something of General Mills who was a DZ, which is where the confusion comes from.

And THERE IS NO FRIGGING BROTHEL LAW. The place I hear this about the most locally is Penn State, and the reason the sororities don't have houses is because of zoning. Fraternities can't build new houses either. Any administrator or faculty member who tries to sell you a story about a "brothel law" is just trying to keep you from having a house. Go to the courthouse and tell them to show you where it's on the books.

Seriously??
I was wondering where those nasty flying monkeys from the Wizard of Oz came from.

Re: More Urban Legends......
 

I wouldn't totally doubt that such a law exists. There are some stupid laws out there. For some time, in Indiana, Pi officially equaled 4...

Anyway, if such a law does exist, I would be very surprised if it was enforced any time in the last 50-100 years.

I stand corrected. Soror Jemison, on her web site (www.maejemison.com), only mentions that she went into space on the shuttle Endeavor. I do know, however, that wherever she went in space, she took an AKA flag with her. Not sure if this was while she was in the cabin, working outside the cabin, or whatever. Just know that she did it, and we're tickled about it.

A lot of Greeks who have been into space have taken their flag, pin, etc. up. Jan Davis took our pin up. I think that's very cool for all of us! I like to know that my sisters are achieving great things. I know I sure don't have what it takes to be an astronaut. (But if they ever start asking for a token newsletter writer to go into space, you KNOW I am going to sign right on up!)

I think it's too bad there isn't a badge on the moon, though. Then again, I suppose the next astronaut really would be an eBay collector and would snag it, with the kind of luck we have with badges!

Originally posted by CutiePie2000
And of course...my personal favorite....
"Such and such sorority is not housed because there is a civic bylaw that says x no. of women living together in a house constitutes a brothel". I have heard this from so many different campuses,
that I have to say - If someone can actually show
me a City Law/Ordinance that states this, I'd love to see it."

The Orientation Leaders at my school use this too. But it is not true at all. The actual reason that we do not have houses is because when sororities were first founded at my school they were asked if they would rather have houses or suites and the women did not want houses. It saved alot of money.

Another legend on our campus is that the sister of the Ball brothers (the people who founded my University) was not given a bid to any sororities on campus and they got mad and would not let there be houses. (Which is another really crazy reason.)

The town where my school is does have a relation law though. It states that no more than 4 non-related people can live in the same house, but that just goes for leases signed after May of 2002. (The law was just passed)

ok-

i am desperately trying to find the letter. i know i have it. i saw it a few months ago. i will post it as soon as i find it:)

Direct from an AXO live and in person -- DeltAlum -- this has got to be the funniest damn thing I've read in a long time. You are cracking me up!

And for everyone else (my dear sisters included) - don't worry about DeltAlum's posts -- he is simply taking up my slack in the Sarcasm department....which needed to be done since I haven't been on much lately. He's a great guy with a great sense of humor -- sometimes you just have to step back and read it for what it is.

I have posted on the rush forum and other places before that the badge on the moon thing is total BS. I heard it at 3 of the 5 houses on my campus the first night (including AXO). I guess my thing is that if that were a true story, then that would be BIG news in our Lyre magazine, and in our other publications. Thanks, Cash, for backing this up as well.

AXWhoah, as for the remark about the "older" folks on here, I (a sister in your bond) am one of those -- and although I'm not middle aged (yet!) I do have a job and a life, but still love to come chat with my buddies here on GC. I think that you were out of line with that remark and you owe an apology for it plain and simple. I'm sorry that you are bored in summer school, but it doesn't give you the right to make a vast generalization about everyone on this board in regards to their age and their "life" in general. I think that being sociable is a very BIG part of my life, and I get some of my best socialization time on this board.

And finally - to everyone - please stop with the "I'm outta here" because you don't like what is being said. If you don't like it, then fine - leave. We aren't really going to care much. But if you really don't like things on here, then WHY bother saying "that's it, I'm leaving" -- if I'm somewhere and I don't like what's going on, then I just leave. Period. I don't have to ask permission, and I sure as hell don't have to ask for the spotlight to be turned on for my grand exit. I hate that a couple of my sisters would leave for these reasons, but then again, I learned how to get along with people (especially those I disagree with sometimes) mostly by being in a sorority! Its a part of life - deal with it. If not, goodbye.

Hey AXOAlum,

Gee, thanks for the kind words. Us old folks gotta stick together. Maybe "stick" isn't a good word to use during this heatwave, though.

In terms of your young sister in Tucson, don't worry, I was there just last week on business and it was so hot I came home real cranky. I suppose you get used to it after a while. But maybe not. Anyway, after all of these years, it takes a lot to offend me.

Actually, the only thing that offends me is that Tom Earp gets to be everyone's secret GreekChat crush. I'm almost as old as he is! Well, maybe not that close.

I'm glad that some folks thought my response to Optimist Prime was funny. Of course I'm not welcome in Cleveland or certain parts of the Balkans anymore. And, I'm petrified of dogs with gold teeth.

I don't recall mentioning anyone or any organization by name, so I'll just be puzzled about the offense taken. OK, I'm over it.

For Disco, I think it's neat that your flag made it around the world in such a fun way -- that's something I can easily believe. Congratulations. It was also about time that we got some women and people of color into the space program when it finally happened. The "old boys test pilot club" was damned impressive, but got boring after a while. When I worked in TV News, I met some of the original astronauts. They were great, but a whole lot alike -- at least with their media face on.

As for a job, let me just assure all of you that I'm not on the welfare roles (yet), but do work out of my home when I'm not traveling, and enjoy keeping up with what's going on on GC. I generally take a look whenever I check my e-mail.

AggieAXO, I'm pleased that you have Delt heritage in your family and that you have some of your grandfather's memoribilia. I just hope you don't know how to spell E-Bay. Or NASA. I don't want to know about any Delt badges on the moon.

Actually, one of the places I travel to on business is NASA at Edwards Air Force Base. Did I tell you about the time I snuck a Delt badge into...Oh, never mind, you'd never believe it.

Now, if you'll all excuse me, I have to go out and try to find a life...
after I relearn the Pledge of Alliegance. I was only 7 when they changed it the first time. It may be more difficult this time.

Your urban legend in his own mind...

DeltAlum

OMG - this is hilarious!! Except the Pledge part -- that is just plain sad (about the changes - not about your age :D)

Of course, since its non-PC for greeks to say "pledge" anymore, then hell - we'll just have to hop over to DC and work on that part!

Good luck finding your life - just know that wherever that is, I want to come!! ;)

OK, then. "New Member of Allegiance" it is. :D

I loved DeltAlum's response, too. People who can take things in stride live happier, more productive lives!

ps: we can't go overboard with the pledge thing...I can just see it now, at a wedding ceremony, "I new member my eternal love to you." :D

"wherever that is, I want to come!! "

I've been in love with Pi Phi's for years -- but I'm going to have to give AXO's some strong consideration!"

But DeltAlum ... its a dry heat don't ya' know!! I've lived in Tucson almost 18 years and 105+ is hot ... I don't care how dry it is ..
But like I tell my sister ... it may be hot ... but I don't have to shovel sunshine!!

But on topic .. It was reported that Jan Davis (who, by the way, was one half of the "first pair of spouses in space" with her husband) did take her Alpha Xi quill into space on the shuttle.

AZFuzzie,

Is that anything like Dry Heaves? Oh, bad joke.

I will remember your words of wisdom the next time I'm shoveling 6 inches of "fair and mild" off of my driveway.

Neat info about the husband and wife in space. I think I remember that.

When I was in college, I worked on a syndicated kids show at the university TV station, and one of the minor players was a Fuzzie who was terminally cute!

I really was in Tucson last week and saw the Delt House while just driving down a street. Dropped in, but nobody was home. All in classes, I guess. When I got back to Phoenix that day, it was 112.

Dry heat.

At last---proof!!!!
 

well, i FINALLY found the letter that AXO nationals sent me. here is the proof. here is an excerpt:

January 26, 1999

Dear Cash78mere (haha),

I have enclosed a photocopy of the article regarding Neil Armstrong's trip to the moon. I must tell you that Jan is no longer married to Neil which we learned from the media a few years ago and she has not remarried unless she has not told us her new name. We have no other records or reports on file.

Loyally,
Records and Recognition

***********************
here is some from the article she sent me: it is dated Fall, 1969:

July 24, 1969 must have been a day ringed in gold for Jan Armstrong, wife of NASA astronaut Neil A. Armstrong. That was the day HER HUSBAND RETURNED FROM THE MOON. (caps are mine) .......................Jan and Neil have known for over a year that he would be landing on the moon and during that time Neil has been gone for extended periods training for the flight.......For us, the Alpha Chis of Houston, there are no words to express our feelings, but perhaps the words sent on the card enclosed with the red carnations sent to Janet Armstrong from Houston alumnae comes closest. "All our love and pride are with you." I am sure that is true for all of Alpha Chi Omega.............

here is more from another article:
AXO has exceptionally good relations with astronauts. Going on the Apollo 12 moon flight in Nov. will be Lt. Col. Richard F. Gordon Jr. whose wife is Barbara Field GOrdon, Univ. of Washington. Barbara was pictured in the winter 1966-67 LYRE after Astronaut GOrdon had flown on Gemini Two. Another astronaut, Joe Percival Allen, is the husband of Bonnie Jo Darling Allen, Alpha. One of the first 7 astronauts, Lt. Comdr. M. Scott Carpenter, is the son of the late Florence Noxon Carpenter, Nu-Univ. of Colorado. Scott Carpenter also had 4 AXO aunts.

*******************************
back to me...

ok, so no more pin on the moon stories!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it didn't happen, never will happen, and if i see one more thread on this topic i will not be responsible for the rant and rage that i will throw!!;)

just let it be...

Re: At last---proof!!!!
 

Amen.

closure from a Phi
 

I've been reading these posts, and though they're interesting, they do seem to be based on speculation and myth. As some of you may know, Neil Armstrong is a Phi Delt from Purdue. At Phi Delta Theta Headquarters in Oxford, Ohio they have the badge that Neil Armstrong took with him to the moon. Evidently, he took it with him, placed on the US flag when he put the flag on the moon. He later took it off - don't know why - and that pin is in the General Headquarters, with a document signed by Neil Armstrong saying that he took it with him to the moon. So, to sum up, a Phi Delt badge was on the moon, but is no longer there. Just thought you guys would like to know.

Phi526,

While I don't for a minute doubt your sincerity, have you personally seen that badge in the Phi Delt Headquarters?

The reason I ask is that, as you can see above, many folks have heard, and take as fact, what many consider the "urban legend" that some fraternity or sorority badge is on the moon -- and several, mostly sororities, have made the claim.

I simply would have to see the exhibit myself before believing it. First, because I would think that Phi Delta Theta would make a much bigger deal of it officially if it were true. Second, I just can't believe that anyone could attach or detach a fraternity badge to a flag while wearing the gloves of a space suit. And it sounds like at least one of those would have to have occurred.

On the other hand, it is not difficult for me at all to believe that some Astronauts have taken their badges into space with them and circled the earth or moon with them.

I suppose I'll have to stop in Oxford (a difficult task for an Ohio University graduate) the next time I'm in Ohio and ask to see the famous badge.

Edited here -- Finally, out of curiousity, I went to www.phideltatheta.org on the web. Nowhere in the fraternity history, nor on the famous alumni page, did I see anything about a Phi Delt badge on the moon. Then, I went to the page dedicated to their emblems. There is a minute description of the badge (without speaking of the secret symbols which I'm sure are part of it), and, again, no mention of being on the moon.

I would bet (I think), that if it were true, they would officially embrace it. Wouldn't you?

alright.....i just sent a letter to Phi Delt headquarters about this claim by Phi526.

as soon as i get a reply i will post it.

and really...think about the logic....i have trouble clasping my own pin here on earth let alone with no gravity up on the moon. :rolleyes:

Re: At last---proof!!!!
 

Mercury Astronaut Scott Carpenter (Beta Kappa, University of Colorado) is one of several Delts who have been in space. As I understand it, Brother Carpenter is/was kind of a "free spirit," unlike most of the original seven. And, as I recall, he took the second U.S. space flight, a sub-orbital one which lasted about fifteen minutes -- very much like Alan Shepard's. (I think I'm right about this, but am doing it most from memory, and could be mistaken) I think that he missed (don't know whether it was his fault or some primitive computer) the prescribed landing area by over a hundred miles. The were worried for quite a while that he had burned up on re-entry or something.

They found him a few hours later floating around in his capsule and having a good time.

It is absolutely untrue that, when found, he was wearing his Delt badge and drinking a bottle of Rolling Rock. I think.

I have seen the badge personally. I was in Oxford this summer for leadership college and had the opportunity to tour GHQ. Anyone can tour it, and they'll explain everything. I actually even met the guy, Robert J. Miller, who said he gave him the badge to place on the moon. I actually took a photo of the display, if you like, I'll email it to you. And if you do have a chance and would like to see it for yourself, I'd definitely go, it's a beautiful building.

Phi...

I would like to see the picture. And, next time I'm close to Oxford (which doesn't happen often) I will try to stop and see the Headquarters and the display.

As much as it pains me to say so (again, being from Ohio University), Oxford is a beautiful college town -- almost as nice as Athens. (Ohio and Miami are old time rivals)

As an aside, I would encourage anyone to stop and tour your headquarters if you're in the area. I've visited the old Delt Central Office, and will visit the new one as soon as I am through Indianapolis again. There is a lot of history to be seen and tradition to be shared.

Phi-

I would also like to see it. please post it or email it.

i don't know how to post a picture on this, if you want email me at phi526@hotmail.com, and i'll send you the pic...

Re: Re: At last---proof!!!!
 

Delt Alum, I agree that that sounds highly unlikely. Since he's a Colorado grad, I would be more inclined to believe that it was a Coors.

Re: Re: Re: At last---proof!!!!
 

Rose,

You have to remember that in those days you couldn't buy Coors East of the Mississippi River.

Enough already!!!
 

Okay, I've been reading this post for a long time (since way back in June or July). And I've tried posting to it several times, but I seem cursed...something weird always prevents me from posting to this thread.

Anyways...

Having worked at the most comprehensive space museum in the world during this summer I took advantage of my resources at that time, and asked Max Ary, the CEO of the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center about this. He is a noted space historian, and has served as a technical consultant on several movies (Apollo 13), Mini-series (the 1980's Space and Tom Hanks From the Earth to the Moon) and other projects. He knows more about space history at a place where lots of people know space history. He gave me the word that he had heard the Legend and throughout his research and the connections he has made he had never had it verified. That is absolutely enough proof for me.

A couple of other things that I've read that are absolutely untrue.

1). The moon has no gravity...Actually it does and it is 1/6 as strong as that on Earth. If you are 180 pounds on Earth you'll be 30 on the Moon. Further this means that even if the astronaut had thrown it off the moon, it would not be fast enough to leave the Moon's gravitational sphere of influence and would eventually fall to the lunar surface. (Lunar orbit speed is about 3000 mph.)

2). The pin could have been knocked about by later astronauts...no simply b/c all 6 lunar landing missions were to 6 different landing sites...none of which were close enough to each other to be withing walking (or later driving) distance

3). The pin could have survived a reentry trip through the atmosphere...Not a chance...there's a reason why early capsules had a heat shield and why the shuttle has it's Thermal Protection system of reinforced carbon-carbon, thermal tiles and Nomex felt blankets (yes blankets!).

4). Information on Scott Carpenter for DeltAlum Carpenter was the fifth American to go in to space and his mission was orbital. Only Alan Shepard and Gus Grissom made sub-orbital flights. Carpenter was by far the most physically fit of the Original 7, and was considered the philosophical one of the bunch. (Gordo Cooper was the not so serious one and he flew the final mission...he also was the one who overshot his landing target - his fault- and for that reason pretty much was never considered for another flight) This information was taken from the books The Last Man on the Moon by Gene Cernan a FIJI, and from The Unbroken Chain by Guenter Wendt who was the pad leader for all launches of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo with the exception of Apollo 17

5.)Finally in response to those who don't believe there are city ordinances restricting the # of people who can live together I submit two articles from last springs Daily Nebraskan that showcase the situation 5 female Nebraska students found themselves in last spring. Story #1 Story #2

Hope that this clears up a lot of things.

Re: Enough already!!!
 

The city ordinance restricts more than three unrelated people from living in the same house. None of those laws call women co-habitating a "brothel".

Betarulz,

Thanks for the update. My comment about the badge surviving a reentry was in pure jest -- just as the rest of that post was. Which is probably why it ticked off some of the folks who believe the "badge on the moon" legend.

Glad to hear the Carpenter stuff. Memory fails after this long. I do personally know some of Carpenters Delt brothers from his time on the CU campus, and they say he was, well, let's leave it as a "free spirit." I had started to question my memory about which flight he was on, so thanks again for clearing that up. I still like my story, because it led up to the Rolling Rock punchline.

Now, I received an e-mailed picture from Phi526 purporting to be a badge that Neil Armstrong took to the moon. The picture is very dark, so I ran it through Microsoft PictureIt and lightened it up and increased the contrast somewhat and enlarged it, which got it to the point that I could read most of it.

If the picture is legitmate -- and I have no reason to believe it isn't -- there is a Phi Delt Badge, complete with the sword guard mounted under a letter which was supposedly signed by Neil Armstrong. It appears to me that the letter says that this badge "traveled to the lunar surface" in "The Eagle" which was the name of Armstrong's lunar module -- the part of the spacecraft that made the moon landing and then, leaving it's base behind, rejoined the command module orbiting the moon. Nowhere does it say that the badge actually left the module, was attached to a flag, or was actually taken out of the capsule.

So, again assuming the legitimacy of the photo, it appears to me that Armstrong probably took the badge on the trip to the moon and back.

I suppose it's possible that the exhibit is a sham which has been pulled on the fraternity, but I don't know why anyone would do that.

I have said before on this thread, that I have no trouble at all believing that a number of Greeks who have served as Astronauts decided to take their badges along with them. It's just this "badge attached to the flag on the moon" garbage that makes me rile a bit.

For what it's worth.

bingo. you hit the nail on the head, deltalum.

about the picture--it was so dark i could barely read it and i'm definitely not as technologically advanced as you!

when i get an email back from phi delt nationals, hopefully it will be the end all and be all.

got the reply! here it is:

************************************************** *
The pin in our library here at Phi Delta Theta Headquarters is no urban legend. I will quote the letter that is signed by Neil Armstrong and displayed with his Phi Delta Theta badge. From the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in Washington, DC., "This badge of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity was placed aboard the Apollo 11 and carried to the surface of the moon by the lunar module "Eagle" on mankind's first lunar landing, July 20, 1960." Neil A. Armstrong, Command Pilot. The part of the story you mentioned about him pinning it onto the flag is incorrect, of course, but he did, indeed, take the badge with him on Apollo 11. As a side note, we also have a pair of tiny flags, one U.S. and one Phi Delta Theta, which Neil Armstrong took with him in March of 1966 aboard the Gemini VIII, during the first docking of two spacecraft. Let us know if we can answer any other questions for you. One of our staff members is a Chi Omega and has been advisor to the Chi Omega chapter at Miami U. She might also be able to help you with these types of questions. Good luck with your endeavors.

Laurie Rosenberger
Assistant to the Executive Vice President
***********************************************
back to me.....
people get so wrapped up in themselves and their org that they stretch the truth and make perfectly valid (and kinda cool) information and stretch it to the unbelievable. as both DeltAlum and i have said, it's not the fact that a pin was on the moon, it that people have INSISTED that it was/is PINNED up there, taken off, worn while Neil Armstrong danced the jig, etc. gosh, the next thing people are going to insist is that there was an initiation held up there during one of the missions.:rolleyes:

let's stop the bragging and focus on spreading the TRUTH. think about things LOGICALLY.

so, congrats to you phi delt! :)

That's a good story that any Greek should be proud of -- especially the Phi Delts. Thanks to Phi526 and Cash78Mere for the evidence -- and to Betarulz for the most interesting research.