Memorial Day Tribute

This note came today from my TN Alpha brother Wade Hutchens. Trane McCloud was killed in Iraq several years ago. His TN A brothers and other SigEp veterans rallied to support his widow and young children. You can read more about it by selecting the #Trane McCloud tag.

Brothers,

I hope you and your families will have a safe, and enjoyable holiday weekend!!!

Thank you to Shane for sharing this. I think it serves as a great reminder, at this very appropriate time, Ito ask each of you to consider sending some of your tax refund in to the Fallen Brothers Scholarship Fund. Be sure to note that it is for the benefit of the McCloud children.

Thanks once again to those of you who helped launch the fund last year. Please make it an annual commitment to send it what you can afford to donate. If every Brother that was in the chapter with Trane would send in just $100 a year, we could get all three children through college. Unfortunately, many still don’t know about this tragedy, so if you can afford more it will help greatly.

Fraternally,
Wade Hutchens

The Fallen Brothers Scholarship was established at the Foundation to help out the children of SigEp brothers who are killed while serving in the military. Please consider this as a way to show your compassion.

SigEp Conclave 2009 - Brotherhood Luncheon

I "borrowed" this post from the New Jersey Zeta chapter's blog, simply because they did such a good job of describing the lunch.

...What really stands out though was the luncheon that we had. Not the food really, ice cream was good though. This luncheon was special because of those recognized and their actions. There was a chapter from San Diego, a brother developed a rare genetic disease that blinded him. His brothers didn't allow him to give up, didn't allow him to simply quit school and be defeated by his condition. They read the assignments to him and helped him every step of the way to achieve his degree. One brother even registered for the all the same classes as him to assist with note taking and working with the professors. Another brother awarded was also from California. A brother and a Marine, Renato Villacorte is committed to duty and brotherhood. When another brother serving his country in Iraq was killed in action, leaving behind three young children, Renato set up a fund to help provide for those children and all families with brothers serving in the military. Even as a first time attendee at conclave, it's great to reconnect with brothers from around the country.
...

Thanks for the good work, guys. Keep it up.

SigEp Veterans - new website

Renato Villancourte showed me his new "SigEpVets" site yesterday. As we noted last year, they teamed up with the "Snowball Express" project to help out Brother Trane McCloud's family and the site design makes that a focus of their efforts.

Are you a SigEp Veteran? Contact Bro. Villacourte and get on the list!

Trane McCloud family gets a Christmas gift from SigEps

When TN Alpha SigEp Trane McCloud was killed in Iraq, his brothers took to heart the charge to come to a brother's aid should he "fall into the hands of enemies." This year Wade Hutchens, his fellow TN Alpha alums, and other SigEps found a way to make Trane's Birthday, which comes close to Christmas, a joyful occasion for his widow, Maggie, and the kids Hayden, Grace, and Meghan.

Brother Renato Villacourte (CA Mu '94) works with the Snowball Express Project, which helps children of those who have been killed in action, and he contacted Wade for fundraising help when the McCloud family was selected to be part of this year's event. The Tennessee Alpha alums rose to the challenge and the McCloud family will be participating in the 2008 Snowball Express Event taking place this week at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA.

The items below are the emails that Maggie and Wade sent out today thanking all those who helped out. What a great story that shows the real 'holiday spirit' and how brothers really do live the Cardinal Principles.

Brothers,

Timing is everything. I received this email from Maggie McCloud today (that she wanted to be forwarded to all the Tennessee Alpha Sig Eps I have on my contact list). I had no idea when Brother Renato Villacorte informed us of the great news that the McCloud’s had been selected to participate in this Christmas’ Snowball Express Disney event that the trip fell only one day after what would have been Trane’s 42nd birthday. When you look at the photo you will see that your contributions turned what would have been a day of heartbreak and gloom into a special memory those children will have forever.

It is this kind of magic that Christmas is all about! To have so many of you wanting to help almost 20 years after we all moved out of 1832 Fraternity Park Drive makes me even more certain today than when I pledged in the Fall of 1985 that brotherhood in Sigma Phi Epsilon is truly a lifelong gift.

On a related note, I apologize for not having the scholarship announcement ready for the McCloud children[...]. I hope to finally have all the details of the establishment of the scholarship and where to send contributions in the next day or two.

Fraternally,
Wade Hutchens

...And Maggie McCloud's letter...

From: Maggie McCloud
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 12:25 AM
To: Renato Villacorte; Douglass Derrick; Wade Hutchens
Subject: The news

Today would have been Trane’s 42nd Birthday. We had our traditional pancake and bacon birthday dinner – his favorite, and then after Krispy Kreme donuts (also his favorite, in lieu of cake) I told them that their Dad had a gift for them – that all of Dad’s friends had a gift for him. I gave them the cards. To say they were speechless is an understatement, but when they could finally speak again they didn’t stop.

Thanks to all. They can’t wait. I was proven quite correct to hold off telling them for so long. Ok, I have done NOTHING in terms of packing, wash, etc, so I am off for a late night. Thanks to all of you for making my kid’s holiday, and their Dad’s birthday a bit brighter. I reminded them again of how blessed they are to have a Dad who touched so many people in his own life, that so many people care about them.

With aloha,
Maggie

Doug and Wade – sorry, I couldn’t immediately find other UT email addresses – please share my thanks.
PS - I didn't tell them to wear those shirts. They came down for dinner dressed like that. Go Vols!

As a TN Alpha member, I was proud to have a chance to help out this family of a brother I never met but wish I had.

Help for a fallen SigEp hero's family

This letter from Bro. Renato Villacorte reminds us that we can come to the aid of a brother even after they have passed away.

Brothers and Sweethearts,

For those of you that are unaware, SigEpVets is a group of our fraternity brothers that are also veterans and active members of our military.  We formed the network to keep better track of our brothers currently in harm's way and honor those that went before them.  Unfortunately, we had our first fatality in December 2006.

Lt. Col Trane McCloud, USMC/TN Alpha, was serving in Iraq when his helicopter crashed.  He left behind a wife and 3 young children.  Although we never met, this was my brother Marine as well as our brother SigEp and I felt this loss personally.  Since then, I've been on a mission to honor his memory and legacies.

We were able to hook up Maggie McCloud and the children Hayden(9), Grace(7), and Meghan(4) with Snowball Express.  Snowball Express is a charity that organizes a winter vacation for the Survivors of those who have fallen in this current war.  This year, they are bringing out almost 1,200 widows/widowers and their children to Anaheim.  They will take part in multiple celebrations along with visiting Universal Studios and Disneyland.  After their Snowball Express agenda is complete, SigEpVets is treating the McCloud family to a few additional days in the area so they can also visit Legoland.

I am writing to invite any and all of you to join the McCloud family as they visit the theme parks during their visit.  They will be at Universal Studios on December 17^th, Disneyland on 18^th, and Legoland on the 20^th and 21^st.  Additionally, there will be a welcoming parade for all of the families on the 19^th in Anaheim, adjacent to the Convention Center.

This would be a great time to reconnect with old friends along with meeting the McCloud Family.  We can honor Trane’s memory by simply shaking their hands and offering the love and friendship that we share in our brotherhood.

If you are interested in more details, please contact me at Rvillac2@aol. com.  I hope to hear from many of you.

Sincerely,

Renato G. Villacorte

---

Please contact Bro. Villacort and lets make this Christmas super special for Trane's widow and children. For more background on Bro McCloud, see these prior posts.

Tribute to Trane McCloud

Trane McCloud was a TN Alpha graduate who was killed in Iraq. Some of his friends, and he had many, are sponsoring a tribute and fundraiser (Click to see the PDF flyer) to help provide for his children.

Dear Friend-

On December 3, 2006, Lieutenant-Colonel, Trane McCloud (USMC) was killed when his helicopter crashed in Iraq. Trane was a career Marine who left behind a family of three children and a wife.

Since joining the military, Trane has lived in Alexandria, VA. But, his roots run deep in Grosse Pointe, MI. He attended Trombly Elementary, Pierce Middle School and graduated from Grosse Pointe South High in 1985. He lived in Grosse Pointe almost twenty years. He always referred to it as his hometown.

Since Trane’s death, we have been on a mission to show our support for this true American patriot and his family. On October 26, 2007, we are holding a benefit charity auction at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. Proceeds from this event will be given directly to The McCloud Family Fund—a fund developed to support his children’s future.

Your charitable contribution of auction item(s) will help raise money for this deserving family. Perhaps you have season tickets to a local sporting event and would be willing to give up a game. Perhaps you own a business and would gladly give up some of your product or services. Dinner for two at your restaurant, a guitar lesson, a personal training session, a piece of original art…Whatever you feel capable or comfortable giving, we would like to put it to auction and give the proceeds to Trane’s family.

If you are willing to donate an auction item to the cause, please contact one of the two organizers below before Sep. 1, 2007. A forthcoming email and invitation to the event will follow.

Thank you,

Terry Ayrault		Gerry Finazzo
(313) 610-5439 cell		(586) 909-2915 cell
theayraults@comcast.net		gjf1232@comcast.net

We had earlier posts about Trane here and here. If you can help them out please contact the organizers. I know it says "before Sep. 1" but give them a call anyway. I bet they can work something out.

Services honor sacrifices of slain

Tributes and memorial services were held this week for marines who died in the past week in separate instances. The article has information about a fund set up for Maj. Trane McCloud's family.

starbulletin.com | News | /2006/12/14/:

"Wade Hutchens, who was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity with McCloud and graduated with him from the University of Tennessee in 1989, said his friend's funeral will be held in Alexandria, Va., tomorrow, followed by burial in the afternoon at Arlington National Cemetery.

'He gave his life so thousands all over the world could have a better one,' Hutchens said by telephone from Asheville, N.C. 'This Friday, he deservedly will join the greatest patriots America has ever known in the Arlington National Cemetery.'

Hutchens said a trust fund has been established for McCloud's widow and the couple's three young children. Donations should be sent to the McCloud Family Fund, c/o Barnes & Sherry Financial Management, 713 Main St., Port Jefferson, N.Y. 11777.

Hutchens said checks should be made payable to Margaret McCloud, his widow. Anyone wishing their contribution to be specifically for the children's education fund should make checks to College America, he added."

Technorati tags: Tennessee, utk, SigEp, Marine, Iraq

SigEp Marine Remembered

(From the HQ news feed)

Brother Trane McCloud, University of Tennessee (TN A), was killed over the weekend in Iraq when the helicopter he was riding in lost power. He leaves behind a wife, three children, and a legacy of goodwill. Brother McCloud was a fine example of the qualities of men of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

ELIZABETHTON - "He was a good Marine, he loved the military," Ron McCloud said Monday about his son.

The proud father had learned just hours earlier that Maj. Trane McCloud had been killed in Iraq over the weekend when the helicopter he was riding in lost power.
[...]
His father remembered him as an outstanding athlete even as a young boy. He made the All-City team in football in Detroit, playing linebacker for the Grosse Pointe team. He also stood out as a center fielder in Colt League baseball for teenagers. As a 14-year-old he told his father he was going to catch someone loafing to first after making a solid hit. He was true to his word, throwing the ball to first base from center field in time to make the out.

After graduating, McCloud went to the University of Tennessee, where he studied liberal arts and history. He graduated in 1989 and enlisted in the Marine Corps just in time for Desert Storm, during which he served on the USS Missouri.[...]

During his time on the ship, Ron McCloud said the ship's captain grew fond of the young Marine and encouraged him to attend Officer Candidate School. He was accepted.

There is too much more to quote here, but read the article to see how outstanding this man was.

Tri-Cities, Tennessee Personal News and Media Center

UPDATE: Link to the Washington Post Obituary. There is an online guest book as well so you can pay your respects to his family.

Technorati tags: Tennessee, utk, SigEp, Marine, Iraq