Legends

By the 1920’s, the reputation and enrollment of PMC was endangered by a lack of academic accreditation. To overcome these challenges, admissions standards were changed and all high school work was shifted to the Pennsylvania Military College Preparatory School. As Vice-President, Colonel Frank Hyatt also investigated having PMC approved by the Middle States Association.

Founded in 1887, The Middle States Association is an organization that provides schools, colleges and universities affirmation that they meet the established and rigorous academic standards of the Association. The value of this accreditation is the recognition that a reliable and independent authority has affirmed the quality of education offered by a college or university.

Colonel Hyatt learned that PMC did not meet the standards for accreditation by Middle States because

PMC was a private military college with no endowment.
Its library facilities were lacking.
The relationship with the preparatory school was to close.

To meet the requirements of Middle States, PMC began to expand the library, in large part due to gift of 3,000 books from Dr. James H. Gravell, of the Board of Trustees, and the appointment of Albert Corpening as the first librarian. In addition, steps were taken to make the preparatory school separate, including making Karl Agan, the College Registrar, Headmaster of the Pennsylvania Military Preparatory School.

In 1947, new efforts were made to gain accreditation, including building a new library. Unfortunately, the visiting committee from Middle States denied the college’s application in 1949 because of a lack of financial stability. With the arrival of General Edward E. MacMorland in 1953, a detailed plan had been developed to accomplish the goal of achieving Middle States accreditation. Under the General’s leadership along with the many improvements made over the past 10 years by other dedicated people, PMC was ready. Despite several areas that needed “clarification,” PMC was accredited in 1954.

During a follow-up evaluation in 1957, which was to confirm the findings of the 1954 evaluation, the Middle States Visiting Committee commended PMC for its “administration and leadership, improved alumni relations, good record keeping, improved financial and budgetary situation, high spirit and morale of students and good library leadership and staff.”

The iconic bugle call “Taps” is possibly the most familiar melody to those who have served their country. When played, these twenty-four notes produce an emotion that lingers in the hearts and minds long after its tones end.

According to Taps historian M/Sgt Jari Villanueva, the bugle call was intended to signal lights out. While encamped at Harrison’s Landing during the Peninsular Campaign of 1862, Union General Daniel Butterfield (Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac) sought to replace the bugle call Extinguish Lights. He felt the call was too formal. He called Oliver Willcox Norton, the brigade bugler, and the two men worked together on a new call. Taps was first sounded in July 1862, and quickly spread to other units. The first use of Taps at a military funeral occurred when Captain John C. Tidball of Battery A, 2nd Artillery, ordered it played for the burial of a soldier killed in action. This custom was quickly adopted throughout the Army of the Potomac. In 1874, the U.S. Army officially recognized Taps.

Almost immediately words were added. The first were, “Go To Sleep, Go to Sleep.” The most famous and possibly the most recognized set of words to Taps has been attributed to Rukurd Hurd, an 1878 graduate of Pennsylvania Military Academy.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky.
All is well. Safely rest.
God is nigh.

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright,
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Dear one, rest! In the west
Sable night lulls the day on her breast,
Sweet, goodnight!
Now away, to thy rest.

Love, sweet dreams! Lo the beams
Of the light fairy moon kiss the streams;
Love, goodnight!
Ah, too soon! Peaceful dreams!

Rukurd Hurd left PMA in 1878 with a degree in civil engineering and settled in Minnesota. Although he was the secretary of the Minnesota State Tax Commission, he was also a consulting engineer for the United States Bureau of Mines. In 1911, he wrote Hurd’s Iron Ore Manual of the Lake Superior Region, and was recognized to be one of the leading mining experts in the country. During World War I, Hurd was a Major in the Engineer Reserve Corps and in charge of the Division of Statistics and Reports. In addition to composing the lyrics for Taps, Hurd wrote the music and words to three cadet songs: Rally (in memory of Theodore Hyatt), PMC Marching Song, and PMC Cadet Ley (dedicated to Charles Hyatt).

The PMC class ring has been a cherished memory of every cadet’s years at the school. The “Junior Ring Dance” was the long-awaited event for cadets. At the dance, members of the Junior Class received the coveted college ring, were officially recognized as upperclassmen, and given a greater responsibility in the Corps.

The Hyatt Armory was always beautifully decorated for what many considered to be a social highlight of the year. Upon entering the armory, Juniors were received by the College President, Commandant of Cadets and members of the military staff. Although the armory was always decorated, the center of attention was the nine-foot high replica of the PMC ring. As the name of each cadet and his date were called, they walked through the ring. Here the cadet had his own ring placed on his finger by his date. After receiving his ring, and a kiss, the couple walked through an arch of drawn sabres held by Seniors..

Prior to 1961, the replica of the ring was borrowed from Valley Forge Military Academy. For several years, the Student Council worked tirelessly on obtaining a replica of the ring for the use by successive Junior classes. The A.J. Schmidt Company of Chester made the frame of the ring. In 1963, a committee of Juniors completed the ring and artwork.

After the ring presentations, the capacity crowd spent the rest of the evening dancing to the music of renowned orchestras. Members of the Class of 1962 were able to entice Maynard “The Boss” Ferguson and his 16-piece orchestra to play at the Junior Ring Dance. The performance of the band enthralled many on the dance floor. In fact many couples stopped dancing near the end of every song to listen mellow tones of the brilliant Ferguson, who ranks as one of the most influential musicians in the history of Jazz.