Better Men Honoring Better Men

OTTAWA, Ontario - The tell-tale signs of winter are fast approaching as wind gingerly sweeps leaves across the frost-sprinkled grass in no particular direction or perceivable order. Reddened leaves float across shoulders, almost with a mind of their own, laying in stark contrast to the bright rosy poppies that adorn nearly every jacket in the crowd. Airs of Lieutenant Colonel John McRae’s famed war poem whisper silently across the huddled mass, "In Flanders fields the poppies blow, Between the crosses, row on row." Clayton Goodwin, a candidate for the TKE Tau-Omega chapter (Carleton Univ., center of picture), stands at the front of the crowd, head lowered, holding a poppy-laced wreath in his right hand.

A trumpet blows a weak note somewhere in the background, almost testing the air as the crowd falls deathly silent, holding their collective breath. The little trumpet finally seems to find its voice as it begins to bellow "The Last Post," as a Canadian flag is slowly lowered to half-mast and the crowd begins the ceremonial two minutes of silence.

Two weeks before the heartfelt ceremony on Nov. 11, Goodwin was chosen to lay a wreath in honor of aboriginal veterans at the Remembrance Day ceremony held at Carleton University in the nation’s capital of Ottawa. Goodwin, of Métis descent, served both in the Canadian military reserves for nearly ten years, as well as having personal experience in areas of operation overseas.

Sporting a ceremonial Métis sash and a "Teke Provincial Education Conference" t-shirt, Goodwin stood at attention as various groups approached the lowered flag, one by one, and laid their commemorative wreaths.

Goodwin remarked that although he was honoring Canada’s fallen veterans, he was also remembering the members of Tau Kappa Epsilon who gave their lives during armed conflicts in the past century.

"The most supreme sacrifice a brother can make is to die for his brotherhood," Goodwin said. "So when they went to war, they died for their brothers."

Amidst the crowd could be seen a group of TKE men, huddled together, gathered in support of Goodwin and in remembrance of the men and women who laid down their lives for Canada.

"We all went to support our veterans, but we also realized we were supporting what our own friend has done for our country," said Frater Matthew Cimon, Prytanis of the Tau-Omega chapter. "It was great to see that he got the opportunity to represent not only TKE, but also what he’s done in the military."

Afterwards, Goodwin was given a gift of tradition medicines and tobacco from the aboriginal student’s association and treated to an aboriginal feast that included moose stew and a pot luck lunch.

Goodwin has been attending Carleton for a little over year, studying law, policy and government.

"Everything I do in campus life moves me more forward in my personal life, no matter how small,” said Goodwin. “Socializing, trying to join the fraternity, all of this is about social growth."

After the ceremony, members of the chapter caught up with Goodwin and listened to the enthusiastic speaker talk about his experiences. It’s men like him that help put everything into perspective.

Story by Frater David Meffe (Tau-Omega, Carleton Univ.). Be sure to follow the latest TKE News with the RSS Feed, on Twitter or the official TKE Facebook Fan Page (Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity). Submit your news today.   

 Share  

 Tweet