Clemson, SC
On May the 24th a crowd of over 50 including children as young as 2, Clemson students, faculty, staff, alumni, as well as local military veterans who came to honor a new tradition that honors Clemson’s military past and present. All in attendance gathered adjacent to the East End zone entrance to Memorial Stadium to pay tribute and honor the legacy of 491 Clemson souls and alumni that have given the ultimate price in serving their country. The Scroll of Honor is the location for this new Clemson Military Tradition.
This recent tradition was the first the idea of Clemson Alum (Class of ’81) and local Ginger Allen. Ginger is the wife of Trent Allen of Allen’s Creations and Clemsonprints.com . A local businessman that is very connected to the University and it’s Military past. Ginger had noticed the “Flags In” ceremony that was taking place yearly at Arlington National cemetery in Virginia each Memorial Day. Where flags were placed at the headstone of each soldier or military veteran buried there. This got Mrs Allen thinking about the Scroll of Honor and the need to honor these Clemson veterans and military heroes. So the “Placing of the Flags” was born.
Each year at this time they gather at the Scroll and place a flag for each represented stone/individual who has been honored there. The scroll is now up to 491 who paid the ultimate price in serving our country. And it is a place that is visited at all times of the year and with profound purpose. The Scroll is easy to find . Just look for the two large Brass Tigers across from the entrance to where the Tigers pour down the hill into Death Valley. And you will see a walkway that leads to a circular mound with stones placed neatly all around the circumference of the monument.
Each year the event is attended and led by Colonel Ben Skardon (Class of ’38) a Clemson Legend if you have ever heard his story of surviving a Japanese POW Camp after surviving the Bataan death march. His story is something they make movies out of. And it’s documented in the LINK placed at the bottom of this article. Colonel Skardon specifically placed flags at two stones that represented his classmates Henry Leitner and Otis Morgan, the two did not survive the same POW camp.
This year two additional stones have been added to the scroll and the Clemson commitment to the nation and its military is directly connected here. As it’s become a place where we can honor and thank them for their service to our country. The scrolls is a place we recommend you visit with your friends and family on a game day or if just in the area. A place to thank our Clemson Alumni that have given the ultimate gift..their lives in defense of our great nation and it’s way of life. So on this Memorial Day, If you are in the area, and have a moment, stop and pay your respects to these Brave Souls and thank them for all they did for all of us that remain.
Link to story I did on this event in 2014 with 247Sports:
https://247sports.com/college/clemson/Gallery/485-Flags-for-485-Heroes-Clemson-Honors-Its-Own-33123891
