[PhiPsiRuss]

Dear Brothers,

In 2002, the year of our Sesquicentennial Celebration, past National Fraternity President Tom James Texas Alpha '48 remarked in a special commemorative publication that ''No great institution will long endure, certainly not for 150 years , unless it is committed at its very foundation to ethical and moral principles of the highest order. Phi Kappa Psi core principles find eloquent expression in the Creed.''

On the eve of our 152nd Anniversary of the founding of our Fraternity, I am again reminded of this true reflection, as men of various ages, different races, nationalities and religious backgrounds are joined together under the universal banner of Phi Kappa Psi to help become achieved students, good citizens and important role models in which to make positive contributions within our host institutions, local communities and in the world in which we share.

In honored recognition of the preceding generations of many living and departed Phi Psi Brothers who epitomize the Phi Psi fraternal virtues of Loyalty, Honesty, Integrity, Commitment, Consideration, Service, and Brotherly Love ... the Executive Council of Phi Kappa Psi has dedicated the February 19, 2004 , Founders Day Observance and our inaugural nationwide Founders Day theme celebrations in special honor and in a ''Tribute to America's Greatest Generation''.

In 1998, NBC nightly news anchor Tom Brokaw wrote the best selling book '''The Greatest Generation'' and is a study and a series of reflective essays of ordinary men and women , military heroes, famous people of great achievement and community leaders in extraordinary times. ''They came of age during the Great Depression and the Second World War and went on to build modern America......men and women whose everyday lives of duty , honor and achievement and courage gave us the world we have today. ''

Our examples of America's Greatest Generation within the Brotherhood of Phi Kappa Psi are countless as I am reminded of lives of many individuals who represent this special era. Among these remarkable human stories is reflected in the military services service record of past Fraternity President Robert E. Lazzell West Virginia Alpha '42 who served in the World War 2 Italian peninsula campaign in the (First Special Service Force and forerunner of today's Special Forces) and in Southern France, and who became the youngest second lieutenant and was awarded the Purple Heart. Bob went on to serve in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. His military awards also include the Legion of Merit and Meritorious Service Medal. He has served Phi Kappa Psi as the District 3 Archon and the 52nd SWGP.

There is the remarkable account of Gordon Sparks Letterman Missouri Alpha '38 the grandson of Fraternity Founder William Henry Letterman who served in the Okinawa and Iwo Jima Pacific Theater campaigns on LST 931, a flat bottom boat with bow doors that delivered tanks and troops to the landing beach and evacuated wounded soldiers and was torpedoed in action and did not sink.

The future wife of Brother Letterman who he met after the war was a twenty-two year old navy flight nurse named Elma who was stationed in Guam and whose service unit (to be recognized by President Truman) would be immediately deployed in areas where an island airfield was captured to evacuate severely wounded. Gordon and Elma Letterman were then to receive the American Theater, Asiatic Pacific Theater and the Philippines Liberation Ribbons. After the war, Brother Letterman went on to serve in a distinguished career in medicine in which he later became the Professor Emeritus at George Washington University in Washington, DC.

There is the example of Brother Clyde M Reedy who attended the University of Minnesota and was initiated in 1940 at Minnesota Beta and who then served on active duty as a Navy Aviator from 1942 until 1946. He flew PBY Catalinas (Black Cats) at Saipan and Iwo Jima where he participated in patrol, air sea rescue, and bombing and strafing runs. His crew lost six men on a patrol in the Philippine Sea and those who survived joined another crew to finish out the tour of duty in the Central Pacific.

Brother Reedy's crew was the air rescue plane for the Enola Gay's atomic bomb flight in 1945. Today fifty nine years later and after a long accomplished business career.....Brother Reedy continues to serve his beloved fraternity and the Minnesota Beta chapter in which he recently spoke to the new chapter pledge class and is currently being interviewed by many Minnesota schoolchildren in recognition of his life long accomplishments.

The opening address of the recent 2004 Phi Kappa Psi Chapter Presidents Leadership Academy in Indianapolis was recently delivered by Brother Harry Henderson Indiana Epsilon '51 Valparaiso University, who as our nationwide Honorary Chairman of the 2004 Founders Day Celebration joined the Navy December 7, 1943 , in bitter South Pacific action and was the second American ashore at Sasebo, Japan , immediately after the surrender, and in the ensuing fifty years of global business enterprise and self less volunteer service with many organizations and youth groups that has earned him a special distinction in Phi Kappa Psi.

These reflections are among the many examples of individuals within the vibrant and proud 152 year old history of our Brotherhood and whose personal accounts further remind us to strive and help build the next ''Greatest Generation'' of young men to wear the lifelong badge of Phi Kappa Psi

In recognition of the supreme sacrifice of many Phi Psi Brothers who represent this important generation in the history of our nation , I consider a great privilege to accept the invitation of the Phi Kappa Psi Washington DC Alumni Association to participate in a special Phi Kappa Psi Founders Day Memorial Observance at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday February 15, 2004.

I wish to also take this special opportunity on the eve of our Founders Day to thank each of you for your deep abiding interest and loyal devotion. Our Fraternity continues to achieve very marked progress in our Scholarship, Leadership, and Community Service initiatives and is laying a very strong foundation in the 21st Century. Together we are building a very bright future in Phi Kappa Psi.

I invite our Phi Psi Brothers, Phi Psi Ladies , family members and special Phi Psi guests to start making summer plans to attend and participate in the 72nd Grand Arch Council in San Diego, California on July 7-11, 2004.

Happy Founders Day!

Fraternally,

John V. Ciccarelli, California Theta '72.
58th President of Phi Kappa Psi