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And this from Dr. Bob Roush, International President of Delta Tau Delta:
September 18, 2001
My Brother Delts,
Like each of you, I was shocked and deeply affected by the senseless loss of life in New York and in Washington, D.C., this past Tuesday, September 11, 2001, a day no one will ever forget. All loss of life is tragic; however, this was especially egregious because it was caused by those who would destroy our way of life, including the very foundation of our beliefs: especially freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, freedom to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. Once again the world now realizes how precious those freedoms are and how much they are worth preserving, including going into battle against those who wish to deny us those freedoms.
And once again Delts will join this fight; some will lose their lives. One already has: Brother Kevin Marlo (University of Pittsburgh, 1995) worked for Sandler O'Neill on the 105th floor of one of the towers of the World Trade Center. He has not been heard from since that fateful day. This good Delt joins those in the Chapter Eternal who also died at the hands of terrorists: Brothers Peter R. Peirce (Ohio State University, 1971) and Stephen J. Boland (Syracuse University undergraduate) were aboard Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988 when their lives and those of their families and their Fraternity brothers were forever shattered by the coward's bomb that took their plane into the Scottish countryside.
(Note: Since this was written it was discovered that Brian Cummins, Colorado, 1986, a partner with Canter Fitzgerald also perished in the attack on September 11)
As you read this letter, please bow your heads in a moment of silence to honor these departed brothers. And remember, too, all those who perished and their families who anguish over the senselessness of the deaths of their loved ones who told them goodbye as they left for work that morning and who called them to tell them they loved them just before the end.
In the midst of all this sorrow, I see hope for the future, hope for you, hope for America, indeed hope for the world. Our president and his team of leaders are showing us the resolve we must have to face this adversity. Our national leaders would be, like the Arch Chapter and me, proud of your individual and collective efforts, too numerous to mention here. In prayer vigils, memorial services, blood drives, fund raising, Delts all across the world are showing the terrorists of what humanity is really made. Because of our national resolve and fine young men like you and our alumni, the war has already been won, although a few tough battles have yet to be fought.
Our Founders were about your age when their lives were torn asunder by that most devastating of national conflicts, the Civil War. Yet, all but one lived long, successful lives. Many, many of our brothers about your age survived World Wars I and II, the Korean Conflict, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the assassination of President Kennedy, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and the Balkans. And you will survive this, too. You will be successful, you will show the world what loyalty is because you have already demonstrated that you know and appreciate what loyalty means to achieve individual and group goals. You learned this at The Delt House where you also learned leadership and the value of teamwork.
So my brothers, just continue doing what you are doing very well: work hard, make your grades, do not give in to despair, and help your fellow man stay the course. God bless each of you, God bless Delta Tau Delta, and God bless America.
I am fraternally your brother,
Bob Roush, EZ '64
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