Wallace B. Fleming – DreamersAndGiants.com

Memorial Address, by President Wallace B. Fleming

Following is the address delivered by President Wallace B. Fleming at the memorial service for our fallen heroes in World War I.

Hon. Roy E. Parrish, whose home was at Clarksburg and who graduated at Wesleyan in the class of 1908, fell in action on the Western Front on July 22, 1918.
Mr. Dorsey O. Warner, of West Union, who attended Wesleyan in 1912, fell in action in France on August 1, 1918.
Mr. Aubrey Carl Smith, of Lost Creek, who graduated in 1917, fell as a victim of Spanish influenze at Camp Meade, Md. on October 7,1918.

No words of praise can either add luster to their glorious deeds or fittingly express the affection and honor in which they are held at Wesleyan.

President Wallace B. Fleming

December 18, 1918

While Wesleyan bows her head in sorrow at the realization of the greatness of her loss in the falling of her sons, she thinks with solomn pride of the splendor of their lives and their triumph in death.

These men were knights of a holy warfare. Men were slow to see the war in its spiritual significance. We thought of it at first as a question of honor or territory or trade advantage. We knew that Germany had been teaching her people the absurd doctrine of the super-man, but it was so absurd that we could not believe that any one was expected to take it seriously. We knew that Germany was building up the greatest military machine that the world had ever seen, but we were unwilling to believe that it was intended for fighting; we thought it was meant to afford show and gratify the vanity of royalty. We did not know that German propaganda and intrigue reached to the ends of the earth. We did not know that the German government supplied money for blowing up factories. We were horrified at the atrocities perpetrated in Belgium. We could not believe the facts about rape, arson, plunder and murder that shocked the world. We could not understand a nation that considered its own treaties but scraps of paper. We were horrified at the introduction of fiendish weapons of warfare — poison gas, liquid fire, submarines sinking unarmed vessels, zeppelins bombing unfortified cities. But it slowly dawned upon us that this was all a part of the heresy that might makes right and that anything under heaven is right if it promotes the interest of Germany.

In contrast with this blackness appeared the spirit of the free people of the world. Humanity will never forget the answer of Greece to the temptations set before her by Germany at the beginning of the war. Germany said “Join us; make war against your ally, Servia. We will win and we will see that you get a nice slice of Servian territory. Stand by Servia and you will have not only Bulgaria but Germany against you.” Venizelos replied “You will allow me to translate your offer into my own words. What you do is this: You ask me to dishonor my signature, to dishonor my country, and to violate its obligations toward Servia, and as a remuneration you offer me a part of the corpse of that which I am expected to kill. My country is too little to commit so great an infamy.”

The world will never forget that when Germany launched her brutal war of conquest, her old ally Italy refused to be a party to such madness, but withdrew and took her place on the side of liberty and justice.

Men will never forget how Belgium answered when offered the alternative of allowing the German armies to pass through their land or being crushed by the gigantic military juggernaut. And brave little Belgium brought a deluge of woe upon her own people by holding up the horde of Huns for a few days; but those few days gave France her chance and the blood of Belgium saved the world.

Men will never forget how old England entered the war because the treaties of the Anglo-Saxon are not scraps of paper. Nor will they ever forget how England fought on to victory though more than half a million of her sons had fallen in death, nor how her navy guarded the seas.

Men will never forget France. We thought them frivolous. We though them brilliant but not sturdy. We were amazed at their spirit. Such sacrifice! Such bravery! Such patriotism! France the guardian of liberty! In future ages whenever tyrannies threaten liberty the spirit of France will flame anew and men will cry “Ils ne asseron pas” — they shall not pass.

All of this finally stood out in clear contrast to the spirit of the Hun. We saw that fundamentally this was a warfare of liberty, justice, truth, against perfidy, tyranny, cruelty; that the free people of Europe were fighting for the weak against the agressions of the strong; that it was a holy war.

And yet it was their war. For a hundred years and more we had refused to become involved in European affairs. This was a national policy from the founding of our country. We were slow to adjust ourselves to the new world situation. It was not easy for us to set aside our past national policy. Even the sinking of the Lusitania did not open our eyes to the whole situation, but they finally were opened. America saw her national duty. She took her place in the holy war. Her sons went in as crusaders. The Kaiser commanded his soldiers, “Spare neither women nor children, take no captives, make yourselves more terrible than the Huns under Attila.” When the American soldiers arrived in France, General Pershing addressed them as follows: “You are now in France, to expel an enemy that has invaded this beautiful land. Your first duty is to fight against this foe, and protect our ally. You are here also to lift a shield above the poor and weak. You will be kind, therefore, to the aged and the invalid. You will be courteous to all women, and never have so much as an evil thought in your mind. You will be very tender and gentle with little children. You will do well, therefore, to forswear the use of all liquors. You will do your duty like brave men. Fear God. Honor your country. Defend liberty. God have you in his keeping.”

Our soldiers therefore fought as crusaders in a holy war, and today we honor our knights who are glorified. Then let it be remembered that few men in life or death have achieved what these men accomplished.

Remember the German plan of last winter and spring. The Italian armies had been rolled back. Roumania had been crushed. Russia had collapsed. It was now possible to bring vast armies from the eastern front for concentrated warfare in France. During the winter vast preparation was made. Success seemed so certain that there was no secrecy as to the object. The crushing blow to be delivered was boastfully called the Kaiser’s battle. The dates were announced on which the German high command expected to make a triumhant entry into Paris.

The big drive began last March, and swept forth with mighty power. The armies of the English were driven backward, backward, backward, although they fought with their usual high heroism. The attacks became so crushing that Field Marshal Haig announced that his men were fighting with their backs to the wall. The lunges of the German army against the French were equally successful. It is true that the later drives did not display the full force of the initial conflict, but with every concentrated effort following the necessary lull for preparation, the Germans made substantial gains. Their armies had advanced until at Chateau Thierry their position formed an arrow-head aimed at Paris, the heart of France. They were near enough to bring the city within range of their monster cannon and one more successful drive would have enabled them to bring up vast numbers of heavy artillery capable of bombarding that city.

It was an hour of great darkness for the free people of the world. It is true that America was sending her soldiers across the seas in unpreceented numbers, but her soldiers were inexperienced in twentieth century warfare. Europe had not yet full knowledge as to their quality. And it seemed yet a question as to whether they could be ready in time to save the situation. The fate of civilization was hanging in the balance. Then out of the darkness flamed the sword of America.

The Huns had renewed their attack at Chateau Thierry. The French battle lines were wavering. But at that critical hour the Yankee boys came pouring in. Many of them had been without rest or sleep for 24 hours, and some for as much as 48 hours, but they rushed forth into the battle with terrifying yells and fixed bayonets. French soldiers withdrawing before machine gunfire met them and said “Turn back! You cannot advance this way. Just ahead are Germans with machine guns.” But the Yankee boys replied, “They are the people we are looking for” — and the world saw something new in human daring. These soldiers rushed the machine gun nests, bayonetted the gunners and turned the guns against the enemy. Of course they paid a fearful price in blood poured out, but they took a still heavier toll from the enemy; and they electrified the armies of Britain and France. These armies that were exercising caution because of uncertainty regarding the American forces supporting them, now moved forward with resistless valor, and the hordes of Huns were turned back. High tide had been reached. Never again would the German armies succeed in making a gain. They were pressed steadily back to final defeat and doom.

That was precious blood shed by Leonidas and the Spartan heroes at the pass of Thermopylae, for it saved Europe from being over-run by Asiatic hordes and gave liberty her birthright.

That was precious blood shed by the heroes under Charles Martel, who at Tours in 732 A.D. turned back the armies of the Saracens, for it was that blood that gave Europe its privilege of developing under the Cross instead of the crescent.

That was precious blood shed by English sailors under Lord Effingham in 1588 A.D., when he crushed the “Invincible Armada” of Philip II of Spain, for that blood saved religious liberty in the world and left England Protestant.

That was precious blood shed at Bunker Hill, for it gave birth to the spirit of America.

That was precious blood shed at Gettysburg, for it gave us an undivided flag and nation.

But never since the Savior shed his blood on the Cross did blood poured out accomplish more than that shed by our Yankee boys at Chateau Thierry; that blood rolled back the black tides that were threatening to engulf the world. It sealed the fact that government of the people by the people and for the people should not perish from the earth. It established truth and justice and liberty and mercy among men.

And in a warfare where blood counted supremely in its blessing for the world it is a matter of solemn pride that Wesleyan men were not wanting.

These fought in a Holy War. These fell when blood counted supremely. If we honor the as they would wish, we will honor them by carrying forward their work.

One, who a short time later fell and now sleeps in Flanders, was so eager that the cause for which his comrades might not fall that he wrote:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly,

Scarce heard amid the guns below

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe;

To you from falling hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Doubtless our heroes whose stars have turned from blue to gold have not forgotten us and are not far away now, and doubtless they too are eager that all that was purchased by the shedding of blood may be preserved. They seem to speak to us and I have, therefore, sought to voice your answer in these words:

Departed ones who seem so nigh,

Your valor calls us from the sky.

Though mortal flesh to wounds must yield,

And forms must sleep in Flanders field,

Your souls with God will never die

Destruction’s dreaded work is done

Your courage crushed the haughty Hun —

Dispelled forever from the light

The thought of power ruling right;

And ye are heroes, every one.

We take the torch from hands that fall,

We dedicate to God our all,

Resolved to emulate the life

Of you who fought in glory’s strife

‘Gainst darkness and the fears that thrall

Shall Wesleyan break faith with you?

Shall actions prove our vows untrue?

Shall we from men your light with-hold

Through love of self or sordid gold?

Then were we as the Huns who slew.

Your memory now that causes tears

To fill our eyes, in future years

Will challenge men, inspire call forth

The nobler self, the real worth,

And give men triumph over fears,

At Wesleyan.

Transcribed from The Pharos, 1919-01-20, by Paula McGrew 2019-06-09

Guardian of Romantic Years – Happy Valentine’s Day

Verse three of the West Virginia Wesleyan Alma Mater talks about the Guardian of Romantic Years. As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, I thought it would be fun to think about that for a minute.

Yes, many people have found their life partners while here. At last count there are more than 1,400 Wesleyan Sweetheart Couples. These are people who met while students here.

Sometimes the courtship has involved long walks on the beautiful campus. Sometimes there were long hours in choir or band practices or lengthy science labs involved. Sometimes romances flourish in the library or in the cafeteria.

Even faculty members have fallen in love!

Literary Society Love

In the early years, it was not uncommon to find love in the Literary Societies (Chrestomathean or Excelsior) because these were organizations where it was approved for boys and girls to gather together. After all, you wanted that debate, or performance, or speech to be extra good! Some notable couples in this category would be Charles and Ireta (Lowe) Jones Seminary graduates in 1904 and 1906 respectively and Edward and Gayzelle (Rusk) Boetticher in the late 1920s.

Whatever the setting, there are people who have an interest (or a challenge) in common and who are spending a lot of time together at a time in their lives when they are discovering who they are and who they want to become.

Alma Mater

But sometimes the love doesn’t involve another person. Sometimes it is the love of learning that is discovered and celebrated. Sometimes it is the love for the place where we spend those romantic years dreaming and growing.

Wallace B. Fleming caputured some of the romantic spirit of the college when he wrote the words to our Alma Mater in 1918, and highlights some of the elements of love.

Verse 1 is about the magic mystic fountains (before we had ACTUAL magic mystic fountains on campus) and the noblest dreams of life. People who were making plans for their lives.

Verse 2 may be my favorite of all. It is about loving to learn as well as learning to love. And, again, the future is imagined.

Verse 3 actually mentions the romantic years. The exciting and mysterious time in life when plans are imagined and dreams are followed is described in this verse along with the call to high endeavor and never ending relationships.

Verse 4 is the same as the first verse. It reiterates the importance of following those noblest dreams of life which have begun and grown during the college years.

All kinds of love.

Agape (unconditional love for everyone).
Philia (deep friendship)
Eros (romantic love)
Storge (familial love….for the college family as well as biological ones)

Ann Lorentz, class of 1931, wrote this lovely poem which wraps up my thoughts for this Valentine’s Day. Not about her sweetheart, but about her college. It is a bit difficult to see, so I will also transcribe it here. The images will sound very familiar to those of us who have walked these same pathways.

Over Here and Over There – 100 Years Ago

Fall semester of 1918 was like none other — before or in the 100 years since.

The U.S. had entered World War I, students had left to serve, the War Department organized Student Army Training Corps to train soldiers – one of the 500 was on the campus of Wesleyan – and the Spanish Influenza epidemic caused quarantines.

Students who were “Over Here” were thinking about their friends “Over There,” and soldiers “Over There” were writing letters home to friends, faculty members, and to President Wallace B. Fleming.

Student Army Training Corps (S.A.T.C.)

Student Army Training Corp 1918 — World War I
Student Army Training Corp., 1918

The War Department organized Student Army Training Corps units in about 500 schools around the country, including Wesleyan. The purpose was to allow students to continue their education while finding and preparing those who would become officers. Click here to read the 15 pages of Rules and Regulations for these units.

On September 30, 1918 there was an Inaguration Ceremony for the 200 troops who would study and train at Wesleyan. It was held in front of the Administration Building, and simultaneous to other such ceremonies across the country. President Fleming and Dean Thomas W. Haught spoke.

Three Lieutenants were present: Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Fred Horton, Jr., Adjutant Cecil G. Gaston, and Personnel Officer Neal Y. Pharr. Adjutant Gaston read words of greeting to the men from the President of the United States, the Secretary of War, and the Chief of Staff.

The October 7, 1918 issue of The Pharos gave some great details and descriptions of the program and of the ceremony. Click here to read the stories in their entirety.

The soldiers were housed in the Gymnasium, then only six years old, which was converted into sleeping quarters and a mess hall for the men. The basketball court was fitted with army cots, and the mess hall was located in the basement.

Their days were regulated with four hours of class work, two hours of supervised study, two hours of drill, and a required 8 1/2 hours of sleep from 9:30 pm to 6:00 am. The girls on campus were quite interested in meeting some of these soldiers, but there were fairly strict policies that limited those interactions.

The Music Hall (now known as the English Annex) was put into service as an infirmary when the Spanish Influenza epidemic made an appearance on campus. Quarantines were put into place for both S.A.T.C. soldiers and Wesleyan students.

Armistice Day (November 11, 1918)

The glad news came that the war was over at the 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month!

The War Department then disbanded the S.A.T.C. programs at the close of the term. The soldiers were able to be home by Christmas. Some chose to come back as regular students to the college during the next term.

Over There in the Fall of 1918

While all of this was happening here on campus, there were Wesleyan students abroad. They were on the battlefields and behind the lines. Several of them wrote letters to President Fleming, Professor Deck, and others at the school to let them know how they were doing. They were thinking of their days in Buckhannon as well. This issue of The Pharos was published just one week before the war ended.

Here are a few excerpts, and a link to the full letters:

W.H. Snedegar to President Fleming: “Just a few lines from one who, though far away, still carries with him pleasant thoughts of the past year spent at Wesleyan, and who still has the Wesleyan spirit running thru his veins. I was called for service June 24th, and on July 18 I was on my way to France.”

From Harvey Swisher: “I did not realize being an officer was so much superior to being a private until I began to travel, but we sure do get the best of service and treatment. Over here the officers are billited with French families, in good beds and with the finest of food. They are all very interesting and courteous to us. I am learning to speak French very well, and I think after a few months here will be able to carry on a fluent conversation.”

Also from Harvey Swisher: “We get our gas masks and steel helmets soon. The helmets are rather heavy, but one soon gets used to them. I am well clothed, have good shoes and boots to keep me warm and dry. I do not want you to worry, as I am getting along fine and am very able to take care of myself.”

From Grant Swisher: “I am glad to hear that old Wesleyan is going to have a military course this fall. I know that it will bring many new students to school. I wish you all the success in the world for the coming school year. I am well and getting along fine. We hope to be up where we can get a few Germans soon. Do not expect to stay away from the old U.S.A. so very much longer.”

From Edwin Krick: “We are in the trenches from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. It is a long and weary night, but the shells keep us busy moving around. I get a little sleep now and then, but have to be on the lookout for gas, as it is the thing we fear most………”No doubt you read a good deal of what is going on over here, but you do not get the facts. I have not gone over the top yet, but our time is at hand.”

The War Issue of the Murmurmontis (1920)

The 1920 edition of the Murmurmontis was designated as the War Issue to pay tribute to all of the things that had occurred, the lives changed, and is a record of things that somehow went on as usual during this remarkable time. It is certainly worth the time to look through it!

Some of the men did not return from the Great War, and are honored in this publication.

One of these was Lieutenant Roy Earl Parish, who was the subject of an earlier post to this blog. You can read it here.

Remembering All Who Were Involved

The world had never seen anything quite like it before. Celebrating 100 years since the end of World War I, and the chance for those involved to return to the lives that were interrupted.

Dreams of Dorothy Lee

Early Days

Once upon a time, in a land far far away, a baby girl named Daw-Say was born. Her father had died before her birth, and her mother was desparately disappointed that she did not turn out to be a son.

In another small village in the mountains in the Fukien province of China there was a small boy named Joo-mook. His family was living in poverty, and his parents both died by the time he was five years old.

Each of them encountered Christian Missionaries who changed their lives by making it possible for them to have an education and to come to the United States for more advanced studies. It was two chance encounters – one in Chicago and one in Moundsville, West Virginia – that brought the two together.

Each receieved new names in America. He became James Cheng and she became Dorothy Lee.

The full stories of their early lives are written in a book called Life Has No Ceiling, by Dr. Frank T. Cutright. Although written as fiction, all of the stories and details have been vouched for by both Dorothy and James and by major people in their lives.

This book includes a great story in the Prologue which takes place in Agnes Howard Hall.

Prologue

If I don’t get a letter by tomorrow night, I am going to call Detroit by long distance and ask him what is the matter — and the charges will be reversed. I’ll teach him to economize on postage stamps!

A group of amused and interested seniors gathered around Dorothy Lee, their Chinese classmate, as she made her spirited threat. The whole student body of West Virginia Wesleyan College had been enjoying their occasional glimpses of this developing Oriental romance. Many of them had seen photographs of the slender, sober-faced Chinese man who was now being threatened with mild revenge. Dorothy’s naive descriptions of him and her comments about him had whetted their appetite for more intimate knowledge.

At supper time that night one of the girs asked, “Has your letter come from Detroit, Dorothy?”

“No, it hasn’t,” she replied indignantly, her usually merry face assuming sterner lines.

“Are you going to telephone him, then?”

“Why, of course. I said I would, didn’t I?”

“We’ll be listening in,” threatened another senior gaily. “I wouldn’t miss the dressing down you’re going to give him for any amount of money!”

“Neither would I!” exclaimed a dozen voices, as the dean arose, signaling that it was time to leave the dining room.

Dorothy tried to escape her tormenters, but they escorted her relentlessly to the telephone booth, insisting that she must leave the door open for ventilation, and then settled themselves comfortably on the stairway outside to await the fun.

Dorothy, seeing that she could not shake off the laughing group, put in her number. She heard the calls along the way–“Long distance…” “Route for Detroit, Michigan…” “Thank you…” “Pittsburgh calling Cleveland…” “Thank you…” –each call punctuated by the buzz or click of connecteions made or broken. And at last the voice of the operator–“Here’s you party. He says he will take the charges.”

“Is that you, James? she said, and at the sound of her voice the huddled girls crowded forward eagerly. They were about to hear the “dressing down.” Then, with a mischievous gleam in her eye, Dorothy went on, “James, I want to know–nu sie-noh-iong-go ci sioh la-bai mo sia pie gie nguai.” And the flow of Chinese was halted only when the operator told her that her three minutes were up! As she walked out of the booth with a demurely innocent face, her disappointed audience eyed her in chagrin.

“We might have known you would fool us,” one girl declared ruefully. “But, what did you tell him?”

Dorothy giggled at their discomfiture and disappeared up the stairs in tantalizing silence. And they never did find out what Miss Lee said to her fiance, Mr. Cheng.

Married on Graduation Day

The couple returned to China to fulfill their childhood dreams of teaching and of helping to reduce suffering among people there. James became a very influential physician – and at one point treated Chiang Kai-Shek, the leader of the Republic of China from 1928-1975. Dorothy and James were invited to his home with a small group of about 18 people to celebrate Chiang Kai-Shek’s return from being held hostage during a regional uprising.

Julia Bee Thomas and Mary — Mary Ellen (born in 1932), Thomas Clement (born in 1930) and Julia B. (Born in 1928)

The Dorothy Lee Scholarship Fund for Overseas Students

As conditions grew difficult through the Japanese occupation of China and the Second World War, the Cheng family lost nearly everything. A group of people from West Virginia Wesleyan College and the West Virginia Methodist Conference Women’s Society for Chrisitan Service went into action to help bring Julia B. (by then ready for college) to West Virginia Wesleyan. The group included such Giants as:

Roy McCuskey (S1905, 1908, College President 1931-1941)
Wallace B. Fleming (College President 1915-22; College Vice President 1938-44)
Edna Jenkins (S1902; Trustee 1943-56)
Lewis H. Chrisman (Faculty 1919-56)
Dr. Thomas M. Zumbrunnen (1919; Trustee 1931-59)
Julia Bonafield (the Missionary who had been the Champion for Dorothy)
Mary Scott (at whose home Dorothy and James had started their courtship)
and Dorothy’s college friend Laura Rector Hedrick (1930 – who became Julia B.’s American Mother).

Julia graduated cum laude from WVWC in May, 1950 and went on to receive her Master’s degree in social work from Columbia University. She became a generous contributor to the Dorothy Lee Fund in order to help other students have the same opportunity that she had been given.

The dreams of Daw-Say and Joo-mook came true thanks to the Missionaries who were there when they were most needed, and to the love and generosity of caring Christians from far away. Their dreams were not for themselves, but rather to prepare themselves to help others.

Many other students have benefitted from the Dorothy Lee Fund for Overseas Students since its beginning in 1946. Nearly 100 of them from countries all over the world.

UPDATE: A special edition of the Emeritus Club Newsletter in February 1983 provided information about Dorothy Lee Cheng as well as requested more information. Word had reached WVWC, through Julia Cheng Kurz, that Dorothy died the week after Thanksgiving 1982 in a nursing home in Los Angeles, CA. Here is a link to that newsletter.

Soldiers, Students, and Fallen Heroes

On this Memorial Day, it is fitting to pay tribute to the role that West Virginia Wesleyan College played in the training of troops in various wars.

In his book, A History of West Virginia Wesleyan College 1890-1965, Kenneth M. Plummer writes of the impact of World Wars I and II on the campus. In so doing, he also chronicles the impact of West Virginia Wesleyan on the Wars.

“The entrance of the United States into World War I brought to the campus a Student Army Training Corp of about 200 men. The military training program which was to have begun September 1, 1918, actually ran only from the beginning of October to the early days of December. The corps was housed in the gymnasium. The Music Hall was converted to a hospital to care for members of the corps who were stricken during the influenza epidemic.” (Plummer, p.55)

There were other impacts as well, including the process of mourning and grieving for soldiers who did not come home. President Wallace B. Fleming is a beautiful example of this. Roy Earl Parrish, class of 1908, was one of those soldiers.

Please take a moment to read President Fleming’s prayer, which he offered on January 21, 1919 at the West Virginia Legislature’s Memorial Service for one of their own members. A Prayer for Roy Earl Parrish.

World War II

“The impact of World War II was brought dramatically to the campus when early in March 1943, there arrived a contingent of officers and trainees subsequently organized as the 49th College Training Detachment (Aircrew). Students in Agnes Howard Hall were vacated and moved to living quarters in town in order to provide living space and staff offices for the detachment. Classrooms were provided using available space inthe music hall, the gymnasiu and by increased use of other facilities. The trainees were fed in a basement hall in the gymnasium. The college obtained sole use of the flying field on Brushy Fork for the training of the detachment. In addition to the men being trained for combat service, the college also maintained a program for training aides to draftsmen, engineers and chemists at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. A short, intensive course was provided for cadet nurses in training at St. Mary’s Hospital in Clarksburg. The training crew of aircrew cadets ended June 1944, the program for Wright Field aides was closed at the end of the war, the courses for cadet nurses were given during the summer terms if 1944 and 1945. Seven hundred seventy-four adircrew cadets, four hundred eighty-seven aides, and seventy-eight cadet nurses were registered in these programs. The courses offered were regular college courses modified according to the suggestions of military educational directors in order to meet the needs of the program. On February 29, 1946, in cooperation with the Air Technical Command Service of the United States Air Force, Wesleyan inaugurated a twelve-month course of training on the college level for veterans interested in placement as engineering aides in the laboratiories at Wright Field. The program was designed to train a minimum of one hundred fifty men.” (Plummer, 93-94)

Click the link below to read more about what life was like on our campus during the war years. Some familiar names are included!

Cub Flier (September 20, 1943)

Includes some interesting stories of wartime at Wesleyan, such as:

Reemsnyder, Man With the Frog
The Song of the 49th
D.P. (Detachment Police) Keeps Eye on the 49ers

In memory of all who have given the ultimate sacrifice, and for those who have prepared for and fought bravely in wars long past, I offer these stories as reminders. For those in more recent years, I am also grateful.

Fear not that ye had died for naught,
The torch ye threw to us we caught,
Ten million hands will hold it high,
And freedom’s light shall never die!
We’ve learned the lesson that ye taught,
In Flanders field.

Of Thee We Sing

When President Wallace B. Fleming wrote our Alma Mater in 1918, this was the campus he was inspired by. 100 years later, some things look familiar — and yet very different.

We have sung this music, with the lyrics set to the tune of the opera Lucia di Lamamore, thousands of times in the past century. Or, rather, we sing the first verse – perhaps because it is a bit musically challenging for many.

There were actually four verses, with the last repeating the first. On rare occasions we have included the third verse. My personal favorite, however, might actually be verse two. Here are the lyrics to all of the verses.

When asked, many people believe that our official Alma Mater is actually a different song altogether. We sing My Home Among the Hills at all occasions. It brings a tear to the eye, as these types of songs tend to do. But this is actually a pretty modern phenomenon.

Written in 1963 by E.W. “Bill” James of Clarksburg, this song was first part of a play that James wrote to celebrate the West Virginia Centennial. It encompasses the entire state, and is especially descriptive of North Central West Virginia, where WVWC is located. He was a Trustee of WVWC from 1964-1978, and received an Honorary Degree in 1973. Our choirs have enthusiastically embraced this musical tribute to the area.

One celebrates the earliest years, and the values that make us who we are.

The other celebrates the beautiful place where we are located.

Both bring a tear to my eye.

To explore the West Virginia Wesleyan College heritage further, please visit https://DreamersAndGiants.com

Tag: Wallace B. Fleming

Memorial Address, by President Wallace B. Fleming

Like this: