Tennessee Delta Chapter President Paul Darkangelo (Tennessee Tech ’13), has been selected by a distinguished group of Phi Delta Theta alumni with military service, to be one of four members of the wreath laying party when Phi Delta Theta lays a memorial wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery on July 5, 2012 during the Fraternity’s 79th Biennial Convention.

Phi Delta Theta members have a long and proud history of military service dating back to the Civil War, with Phi Delts serving in every conflict, both foreign and domestic, and receiving nearly every military medal and recognition offered by the United States and Canada.  More members of Phi Delta Theta have received the Medal of Honor than almost any other fraternity.

Phi Delta Theta has been invited by Arlington National Cemetery to lay a memorial wreath at the 'Tomb of the Unknowns' at the Cemetery during the Fraternity's General Convention in Washington, D.C. A wreath laying ceremony is one of the most important ceremonies which takes place at Arlington National Cemetery, often being conducted by visiting heads of state and other community and political leaders.

Phi Delta Theta will be participating in its wreath laying ceremony at 9:15 a.m. the morning of Thursday, July 5, 2012. The Fraternity is allowed four individuals to formally participate in the ceremony. In recognition of the important military service being provided by many of our current undergraduate Phis, the Fraternity recently hosted a competition for undergraduate Phis currently serving any branch of the United States Military, in either an active or reserve duty status. Brother Darkangelo was selected from the applicants to join the wreath-laying party and will attend the General Convention at the Fraternity's expense.

Brother Darkangelo was selected based on his military service, Phi Delta Theta activities, community and campus activities and academic activities. He also prepared, as part of the application process, an essay which will run on the Phi Delta Theta Blog.

Brother Darkangelo has been a member of the Tennessee National Guard since 2009 when he joined as a 11b Light Infantryman and enlisted as a E-3 Private First Class.  He attended Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, where three other members of his platoon at Basic Training and Infantry School, as well as one of his Drill Sergeants and his Company First Sergeant, were also Phis. He was promoted to E-4 Specialist in November, 2011.  He started with the 278th Tennessee National Guard unit Headquarters in Cookeville, Tennessee and has contracted with the Tennessee Tech ROTC program as an SMP cadet and serves in both the National Guard and TTU ROTC at the same time.  He now serves in Company B(-) I-224 Aviation Regiment as a cadet where he is learning to fly helicopters and become an officer in the U.S. Army. He recently turned in his paperwork volunteering for his first deployment to Afghanistan.

Darkangelo was initiated into Phi Delta Theta at the Tennessee Delta Chapter in December, 2009. He has served the chapter as Risk Management Chair, Vice President and is the current President of Tennessee Delta.  He has helped organize the chapter’s ALS 5k walk/run for the past two years and joined the True Blue Society in 2011.

On campus Brother Darkangelo serves as an elected Senator in the Student Government Association and is a member of the Tennessee Tech University Wildlife Society, Rotoract Community Service Club, and Tennessee Tech Ducks Unlimited.  He is majoring in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice.  Brother Darkangelo is also an Eagle Scout and serves as an Assistant Scout Leader in the Boy Scouts of America.

Brother Darkangelo was selected for this important role by a group of Phis who are either currently, or have in the past, served in the military: Major Chris C. Hill (Washburn ’98), Stephen “Tio” Kleberg (Texas Tech ’69), Rear Admiral Dan Kloeppel (Northwestern ’70), Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Mark H. Ochsenbein (Eastern Kentucky ’77), Rudy M. Porchivina (San Jose State ’89) and Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Thomas W. McKevitt (Utah ’85).

Congratulations Brother Darkangelo and thank you to all those undergraduate Phis who serve.