Province Flags of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity are Dedicated IN MEMORIAM KAPPA NEWS FLAG DEDICATION
T he words of the United States Postal Service creed could have been apt for the
dedication ceremony. Inclement weather across the nation canceled
and redirected flights to different times to the Northeast. Despite the “snow, rain, heat or gloom of night” affecting travel patterns, the
Province Flags Dedication was nevertheless held on May 30, 2019 in Philadelphia at the newly renovated International Headquarters. The Master of Ceremony was Grand Board Mem- ber Jimmy McMikle. Grand Board Member Christopher C. Raxton called the ceremony to order. Grand Board Member André Juwan Earls provided the welcome. Rev. Dr. Tony C. Evans Sr., National Chaplain provided the invocation. 96 th Elder Watson Diggs Awardee Earl T. Tildon provided the Flag Litany.
Ten years after the founding of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Third Grand Polemarch George F. David, II proposed dividing the Fraternity into supervisory districts. The idea originated with his father who was Presiding Elder of the AME Church and also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi. ® Grand Polemarch David implemented the division of the Fraternity into three districts. Second Grand Polemarch Irven Armstrong was assigned the first; Harrison R. Duke, the second; and Harold M. Tyler, the third district. The three districts grew into four “regions.”
Fifth Grand Polemarch Earl B. Dickerson changed the designation of “Region” to “Province” and “Regional Director” to “Province Polemarch” at the 15 th Grand Chapter Meeting in 1925.
Each Province Polemarch (or his stand in) was called forth as each flag was dedicated in honor of the brothers of each Province.
“Today, we gather at the International Headquarters of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. to announce that Kappa Alpha Psi presently has 12 Provinces, covering all areas where Kappa chapters are located in the world. Today, we cel- ebrate the achievements of members in all 12 Provinces, and honor them with the dedication of 12 Province flags. These Province flags are symbolic of the revered purpose of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and should be displayed proudly at every official province activity.
Let the flag be a reminder of the words in our kappa Hymn: We’ll live for thee; we’ll strive for thee, we’ll all thy ways adore; we’ll long for thee and toil until we reach that Golden Shore.”
The Honorable Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr. 95 th Mayor of the City of Philadelphia brought greetings and reminded us that each act we take to better humankind reduces the size of the crack in the Liberty Bell. Grand Polemarch Battles provided eloquent and uplifting closing remarks before Brother Evans provided the benediction.
To strengthen participa- tion, the event was streamed live on our site.
42 | SPRING ISSUE THE JOURNAL
Publishing achievement for 105 years
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker