Annual Class Memorial & Reunion

Brief History of the Memorial Service

The origins of today’s Memorial Service date back to the 50th reunion of the Class of ’39. On that day in 1989, the Memorial Service was held from the steps of the Caboose and was led by President, Tee Senn. It was videotaped as was much of their Golden Anniversary including their dedication of the Bell Tower in the Carillon Garden.

The elements of their original Memorial services are identical to the ones we are using today, honoring our country, honoring God, honoring departed classmates and spouses by tolling the Guardroom Bell one last time, reading poetry and singing inspirational music including the Clemson Alma Mater, and perhaps most profoundly, sounding Taps.

The Guardroom Bell, at the center of the Cadet Life Garden behind me, was also the centerpiece of the life of a Cadet at Clemson A&M College. The cadets answered the bell to rise, eat, muster, go to class, go to worship, and go to bed. For it to toll for them at the end of their lives was a beautiful coda. Adding meaning to tolling of the bell, the wooden mallet now used to strike the bell was custom-made by Honorary Classmate Chalmers Butler and dedicated in 2014 during the Memorial Service and in the presence of several original class members.

Although all the original members of the Class of ’39 have passed away, they provided a means to perpetuate the Class by inducting new members each year. Now, it’s the only Alumni Class at Clemson that grows over time.

The current generation of the Class of ’39 have decided to continue the Memorial Service to annually honor the entire class and their amazing accomplishments - particularly the 27 members of the Class who lost their lives in the service of their country. They are memorialized on the Bell Tower Monument in the Carillon Garden.

We will toll the Guardroom Bell 39 times during the service today as a meditative tribute to all deceased members. Their names were added to this handsome Roll of Honor and memorialized individually each reunion in the year that they passed away. The men who died while serving their country have a star on their nameplate. The Roll is complete now, but their impact is eternal.

Event Details

The origins of today’s Memorial Service date back to the 50th reunion of the Class of ’39. On that day in 1989, the Memorial Service was held from the steps of the Caboose and was led by President, Tee Senn. It was videotaped as was much of their Golden Anniversary including their dedication of the Bell Tower in the Carillon Garden.