Remembering a Brother

Editor’s Note: This is an article of a Sigma Chi who lost his life, while protecting his country. It is important to remember Veteran’s from Wars in the past and present. These people give up their lives every day for us. Also, we have to realize that a Sigma Chi not only does good things for a community while in college, but after too. There is more to a Fraternity that college life, and people needs to realize the positive effect a Fraternity member can make after college.




Alumnus Memorialized by Fraternity After Death in Afghanistan Combat

By Phillip Bowden The Shorthorn News

Monday, 03 December 2007 07:20 PM

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Caban

As clouds darkened the sky overhead and the chorus of “Amazing Grace” filled the silence, the Sigma Chi pledge class Alpha Psi stood silently around the flagpole that newly bore their fallen brother’s name.

Army Staff Sgt. Eric Caban, assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), died July 19, 2006 from injuries sustained in southern Afghanistan during combat operations with enemy forces July 18. Caban was a university alumnus and a member of Sigma Chi. Saturday the fraternity dedicated a memorial in their brother’s honor.

Colin Pennington, Alpha Psi pledge class president, formally dedicated the memorial in honor of Caban. On the bottom of the flagpole the words “Brother Caban guard well the gates to our chapter eternal. All honor to his name,” are engraved.

“This flagpole falls short of the amount of respect we have for Eric,”

Pennington said. “But it serves as a monument to the person he was.”

University alumnus Jason Jones, who graduated last year, is awaiting his commission into the United States Marine Corps as an officer. Jones praised Caban’s service to his country and said he believed Caban exemplified the best qualities of the fraternity. Jones said he was honored to rush because of Caban’s service.

“We’re gathered here today to commemorate our fallen brother who gave his life so that we could be free,” Jones said. “Eric was the epitome of the values of Sigma Chi. It was most evident in his heroic actions in Afghanistan.”

Jones read the Soldier’s Creed aloud and praised Caban for encompassing the values of a soldier, namely self-sacrifice. He thanked the pledge class for their hard work on the memorial and expressed his hope that Caban’s death would bring the fraternity brothers closer together.

“I have not seen a gesture like this in quite a long time. This is amazing what you did,” Jones said. “I hope that our relationships only grow. It doesn’t matter in the end, we’re all Sigma Chis.”

Caban’s younger brother, Edwin, said he was touched by his brother’s Alpha Psi pledge class’ gesture and spoke about the effect his brother’s life had on others.

“Eric influenced so may people. Just to see things like this happen is a blessing,” he said. “Eric’s love had no limits if he knew you. He was passionate and dedicated to the people he cared about.”

Fraternity members were exhorted to carry on with the same passion and vigor that his brother had for life.

“He’d want you to have that same love for life, that same drive every day that he had,” he said. “There’s not a word for how wild he was about life. He lived it to the fullest. What’s life without that kind of love?”

Sigma Chi president Bryan Chambers closed the ceremony after saying a few words about Caban and presenting Jones with the first Sigma Chi military badge.

“The important things to remember is that death cannot kill what never dies,” Chambers said. “Eric’s memory will live on forever.”

This is a touching article, although not current, it still shows the dedication one man has to his country. The greatest thing about this is, not only did Brother Caban have a dedication to his country, but also his brothers and Sigma Chi. The Alpha Psi pledge class’s memorial really was an amazing gesture, for what seems like an amazing person. The best part of Sigma Chi is how one person can feel so close to a brother, they haven’t probably have known that well. Brother’s who knew Brother Caban, said he had all of the values of a Sigma Chi. I really respect alumni’s of Sigma Chi. A Sigma Chi is every where, they don’t just do good for Sigma Chi, they do good everywhere. Many of the Founder’s of Sigma Chi, fought in the Civil War, as did many other brave Brother’s; it’s all about loyalty and justice to one’s country. To give up your life for everyone else is a very noble thing to do. Sigma Chi has been around to see many wars in its lifetime, but nothing makes me prouder to know, that a Sigma Chi is willing to fight for their country, their brothers, and their rights. I salute all of the Sigma Chi Brothers who have served in a war, and also all the men and women who have fought and are fighting for a better place. Risking their lives day by day.

Posted By: Sagar Agrawal