A Tribute to the Fallen
Widener has a longstanding tradition of service and sacrifice dating back to its roots as Pennsylvania Military Academy and Pennsylvania Military College (PMC). During times of war, cadets have answered the call to defend our nation and even gave the ultimate sacrifice.
The Wolfgram Memorial Library, in partnership with the PMC Museum, recently unveiled the Fallen Soldiers digital archive exhibit and memorial plaque to commemorate the brave cadets who lost their lives in combat.
“PMC is really unique and special in that being a military school we have a cadet who served in every conflict that the U.S. has been involved in since the Civil War,” said Jill Borin, university archivist. “This exhibit reflects that unfortunately so many of these men gave the ultimate sacrifice and it is so important to honor that.”
The memorial plaque lists the names of the 75 alumni, defined as any individual who attended the Pennsylvania Military Academy, PMC, Pennsylvania Military Preparatory School or Widener, who were killed in action or who died as a result of their wounds. It is proudly on display in the library lobby.
The idea for the plaque stems from the creation of the online exhibit led by Borin and Kayla Van Osten, archives assistant.
PMC Museum Committee Chairman Ron Romanowicz originally spearheaded efforts to keep records of fallen alumni. Borin and Van Osten, with support from Library Director Deb Morley, built upon that existing record to develop the comprehensive list of all 75 alumni. Each digital record features detailed information including the cadet’s name, date of death, and the war they served in.
“The digital format exhibit exists as a living breathing document which will allow the university to update information accordingly,” said Borin.
In addition to promoting accurate and timely records, the digital collection is a great educational resource for students and faculty as well. Along with housing the records of the fallen, the digital archive links to available documents associated with each alumnus which gives readers a glimpse into the lives of these extraordinary men.
For example, the record of James Gilbert, Jr. is accompanied by a digital scrapbook. Gilbert was a PMC alumnus who served in WWII. After his deployment, Gilbert went missing in France in 1945 and was never found. To honor his service, Gilbert’s family donated the scrapbook and other materials consisting of 71 personal and public items that chronicle his heroic life.
The Fallen Soldiers exhibit is just one of the many resources that the University Archive offers. From historic timelines and oral histories, to photo scrapbooks and university artifacts, the library and University Archives hold the key to unlocking the history of PMC and Widener.
