Student's service in 1898 war is honored

By Linda Grace-Kobas

Amid the happy events during this past Reunion weekend, a group of Cornellians gathered Saturday beside towering trees under a bright blue sky to remember a young man's sacrifice.

Donald T. Weadon '67, left, displays a plaque, June 11, commemorating two Norway spruce trees (one can be seen at right) planted by Theodore Roosevelt in 1899 in memory of Clifton Beckwith Brown, Class of 1900, at Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity on South Avenue. Brown was killed in combat during the Spanish-American War. Cornell University Photography

In 1898 Clifton Beckwith Brown, Cornell Class of 1900, responded to the national cries of "Remember the Maine!" and the congressional declaration of war against Spain by leaving his studies and fraternity brothers at Cornell to join the service of his country. As a reserve officer in Company M of the 71st New York Regiment, he joined Col. Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders in the bloody charge up Cuba's San Juan Hill, bearing weapons left over from the Civil War. Brown was among more than 1,000 American soldiers who were killed or wounded in securing that victory against experienced Spanish troops.

Brown was the first Cornellian to die in combat while in his country's service.

The following year, on June 20, 1899, Roosevelt -- now the "Hero of San Juan Hill" and governor of New York -- visited the Cornell campus to plant two Norway spruce trees at the Delta Kappa Epsilon (Deke) lodge at 13 South Ave. in honor of the memory of his fallen comrade and fraternity brother. Roosevelt was a Deke member at Harvard.

"It was a grand gesture of remembrance," said Donald A. Weadon Jr. '67, president of the Cornell chapter's alumni association, at the June 11 service. Weadon spearheaded the effort to memorialize Brown. He unveiled a stone monument and plaque that now stand next to the lodge's entrance to commemorate Brown's sacrifice and Roosevelt's tribute. "Our men and our cadre of alumni have long honored Brown's example of national service, sacrifice and adherence to our [fraternity's] values."

"We're interested in preserving the heritage of this organization," said William Houck '70, a member of the alumni board of directors. "I think it's important that then, as now, people considered what's worth sacrificing for. There are parallels between that period and the present."

George Nesterczuk '66 added, "Recognizing the past is important in learning for the future."

As he stood among the group of about 50 fraternity alumni, members and guests, Dan Goldin '06 said the remembrance of Brown's sacrifice "meant a lot" to him. "The guy didn't have to go to war," he said, "but he decided to serve his country. It's right to honor him."

The two Norway spruce trees are listed on the New York State Register of Historic Trees. The new monument is the only memorial in Ithaca to commemorate Americans' sacrifice in the Spanish-American War.