The Archives of Phi Kappa Psi

WVU frat to honor brothers in arms

Phi Kappa Psi will dedicate flagpole
THE FLAGPOLE dedication will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday, at the fraternity house, 820 Spruce St. It is
open to the public. The chapel ceremony to honor Phi Kappa Psi members who have died is closed to the
public.

By Alex Lang, The Dominion Post

Morgantown, W. Va. Feb. 16, 2011

The WVU chapter of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity will celebrate its founding Saturday and
honor two members who died in service to their country.

For roughly 45 days, the fraternity has had two
new flagpoles outside its house. Saturday, one
of the flagpoles will be dedicated to Albert
Parker “Pat” Carden and William Timothy “Tim”
Wheeler, members of the fraternity who were
killed during combat in the Vietnam War.
“This is a culmination of the remodeling of the
whole house,” Bird said. For three years, the
house has had extensive renovations, he said.
Everything from the piping to the flooring and
roof has been replaced.

The dedication coincides with the fraternity’s

Founder’s Day celebration. A brothers-only
ceremony will be held in the chapel to recognize
members lost during the past year.

“There is an air of excitement,” adviser W.C.

Bird said about the weekend’s activities.

The students have been preparing for the

ceremony the entire week, he said.

Bird said he served in Vietnam and was in the

fraternity at the same time as both honorees. He
Ron Rittenhouse/ The Dominion Post
said he was pleased that the fraternity was The memorial plaque will be placed at the flagpole
making the gesture. in front of the Phi Kappa Psi house.

Carden, who graduated from WVU in 1968, was

killed in action on June 25, 1971. Wheeler
graduated from WVU in 1968 and was killed in
action on March 12, 1969.

Several family members will attend the

dedication, alumnus Zach Mendelson said.

Two flagpoles were put in to replace an old one,

Mendelson said. When they were installed, the
fraternity decided to honor Carden and Wheeler.
The other pole will remain undedicated for the
time being.
But, two new flagpoles aren’t the only work
that’s been done at the fraternity.
Ron Rittenhouse/The Dominion Post
Phi Kappa Psi adviser W.C. Bird looks at portraits of
Albert Parker “Pat” Carden and William Timothy “Tim”
Wheeler, who were killed in action during the Vietnam
War. Members of the fraternity plan a dedication for
the Carden Wheeler Memorial on Saturday, at the
flagpole at their house on Spruce Street.

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