Campus Life & Traditions

Named for Civil War defender Henry Clay Robinett, Battery Robinett was formed in 1963 by cadets seeking deeper artillery training. They acquired a replica Parrott cannon and fired volleys at ceremonies and football games. Today, each touchdown salute continues a tradition that honors Robinett’s courage at Corinth.

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Charles E. Hyatt expanded mounted drill in 1889, establishing cavalry competitions that drew national attention. Federal inspections praised PMC’s superior military instruction, and by 1903 it was named one of the ten distinguished military institutions in the country — elevating its reputation nearly to West Point.

At PMC, polo rose to national prominence in the 1920s and 1940s through elite coaching and championship play. In 1935, after a fatal accident during the Eastern Junior qualifier for the East-West Polo Championship, cadets chose sportsmanship over victory, cementing PMC’s legacy of excellence and honor.

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In 1888, PMC’s football team delivered a flawless season—undefeated, untied, and without allowing a single point across nine games. Backed by strong cadet support and disciplined play, the team set an early standard for excellence, later echoed by another undefeated squad in 1933 against top competition like West Point.

PMC’s Atlantic City football tradition began with a 1932 indoor game vs. Delaware. The later rivalry with Kings Point became the famed “Little Army‑Navy Game,” drawing national media from 1961–67. These contests, including the Boardwalk Bowl, boosted school pride and put PMC on the national stage.

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As part of a long-standing rivalry with the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, a small group of PMC cadets pulled off a late-night prank by taking Kings Point’s Victory Bell after careful planning and campus scouting. They slipped away unnoticed and later ensured the bell was returned through official channels during a football game.

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From its early drum and bugle roots to its 1935 rebirth as a modern marching band, the PMC Band became a defining force on campus. Performing at major parades, festivals, and military events, it earned national acclaim—culminating in 1965 when it won the ROTC Marching Competition at the New York World’s Fair.

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PMC’s Cavalry Squad, founded in 1888, earned acclaim for its precision riding. Each year cadets competed for the 14‑carat Bergfels Medal, created in memory of Civil War sergeant John G. Bergfels. The rigorous event—vaulting, jumps, passes, and more—became a signature Commencement tradition.

The “Broomstick Drill” became part of early campus lore when students mimicked soldiers using broom handles as rifles. What began as imitation soon became inspiration, prompting the formal adoption of military training and setting the course for the institution’s transformation.

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Known as First Captains after 1963, Cadet Corps Commanders were the highest-ranking cadets and symbols of leadership at PMC. Chosen by military staff based on performance, academics, and leadership, they upheld standards, guided morale, and embodied the trust and values of the Corps of Cadets.

Rooted in ancient military tradition, PMC’s Color Guard carried the American and school flags as symbols of honor and unity. Evolving from a single bearer to a trained unit, they performed ceremonial duties and rendered honors, reflecting the discipline and pride of the Corps of Cadets.

Introduced in 1893, PMC’s spring encampment gave cadets hands-on military training modeled after West Point. Living in tents, cadets practiced drills, marksmanship, and teamwork while enjoying recreation and campfire camaraderie. Later aligned with ROTC programs, encampments remained a core part of the PMC experience for decades.

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Rukard H. Hurd, PMA Class of 1878, is credited with writing the most recognized lyrics to “Taps,” the nation’s iconic bugle call. A respected engineer, author, and World War I officer, Hurd also composed several PMC cadet songs, leaving a lasting mark on both military tradition and the college’s heritage.

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Though he attended PMC only briefly, filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille remained devoted to the school. In 1951, he created the DeMille “Freedom” Trophy, awarded annually to the cadet who best exemplified commitment to individual freedom. For 24 years, it stood as one of PMC’s most prestigious honors.

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Founded in 1948 and chartered in 1952, PMC’s Pershing Rifles Company Q‑5 grew into a nationally recognized drill unit. Under expert leadership, the team excelled in basic, trick, and advanced drill, winning dozens of trophies—including national titles—and later serving as Regimental Headquarters as Company Q‑15.

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PMC’s cadet uniform became the school’s most recognizable symbol—an emblem of discipline, pride, and elite identity. Modeled after West Point’s gray dress uniform and tailored with strict standards, PMC uniforms changed little from 1862 to 1972, evolving only in suppliers and seasonal variations like the 1963 summer whites.

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Colonel Hyatt used honorary degrees to raise PMC’s national profile, awarding them to leaders like FDR, Harding, Pershing, MacArthur, and DeMille. Roosevelt praised PMC’s American spirit and later told Hyatt he followed the College closely. PMC also honored wartime alumni with the Bachelor of Military Science.

President Charles E. Hyatt reshaped daily cadet life — moving reveille, abolishing early study hours, strictly enforcing alcohol bans, and introducing collar stars to honor academic merit. A firm disciplinarian, he believed education was about more than intellect: it was “more important to make a man than educate a mind.”

Life at PMC was shaped by a clear code—grounded in honor, reinforced by rules, and upheld by cadets themselves. From the Regulation Book to the Honor Court, expectations were high, accountability was shared, and discipline became a defining part of the cadet experience.

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Each day, cadets stood inspection on the Porch of Old Main—uniforms sharp, knowledge ready, and every detail under scrutiny. In these moments, discipline was on full display, shaped by routine, expectation, and the steady pressure to measure up.

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For Rooks, Saturday mornings meant white glove inspections, perfectly made beds, and spotless rooms down to the smallest detail. What began as pressure became something more—discipline, teamwork, and pride in doing things right.

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Just 16 years after the Wright brothers’ first flight, PMC became the nation’s first college to offer aviation training. From early biplane lessons in 1919 to Civil Air Patrol and ROTC flight programs, PMC built a pioneering legacy that prepared cadets for military aviation and the rapidly growing world of air travel.

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PMC’s rigorous discipline—meant to shape character through drill, precision, and perseverance—also forged habits essential to writing. It’s no surprise that many cadets became accomplished authors, producing works ranging from military history and memoir to poetry, journalism, and fiction.

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PMC’s military program, modeled on West Point, earned repeated War Department praise. Named a distinguished military college as early as 1904, PMC excelled in inspections and leadership training. Cadets selected as Distinguished Military Students reflected the College’s high standards in academics, discipline, and command.

Fourth‑class “Rooks” arrived at PMC to a world of bugle calls, inspections, drills, and demanding weekends. Confused at first, they learned discipline, honor, cooperation, and how to follow before they led. Recognition by the “Old Men” marked their transformation into full members of the Corps.

From Theodore Hyatt’s early drills to a fully integrated cadet system, PMC built a program that shaped courageous leaders like Hobbs, Berry, and Merendino. Cadets learned discipline, character, and pride—values that produced generations of successful military and business leaders.

The Wolfgram Memorial Library was built after World War II and named in honor of Lt. William J. Wolfgram ’43, a PMC alumnus killed in action in Italy. Its cornerstone was laid in 1948, and the library became a lasting campus hub for scholarship and remembrance.

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Built in 1868 and rebuilt after an 1882 fire, Old Main served as PMC’s center of cadet life—housing quarters, classrooms, mess hall, and traditions like Dome signatures and the Filoreto Carillon. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, it remains a lasting symbol of the College’s heritage.

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Installed in 1964, the 25‑bell Coronation Carillon in Old Main’s dome honors Albie Filoreto ’63, a beloved athlete who died shortly after graduation. Funded by the PMC community, the bells once marked class times and played the Alma Mater. Restored in 1978, they now ring out “Hear the Roar!”

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For nearly a century, cadets left their names inside the Dome of Old Main, where Military Science classes were once taught. Though now closed for safety, the rafters still hold signatures from generations of cadets—famous and unknown—preserved in the building’s history.

Built in 1926, Memorial Stadium transformed PMC athletics with modern seating, new fields, and facilities for both sports and military training. Funded by alumni and community support, it opened with a dramatic first game and carried the motto “Dedicated to Youth,” reflecting PMC’s values and spirit.

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Installed in 1959, Carl Lindborg’s mural depicts cadet life, academics, athletics, and PMC leaders. Featuring President MacMorland, Frank K. Hyatt, and star player Herm Sweeney, the artwork reflects PMC’s values of education, character, and military training.

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Dedicated in 1891, the Theodore Hyatt Memorial Observatory honored PMC’s beloved founder. Designed by Col. Silas Comfort, the stone building housed advanced astronomical instruments and supported engineering studies, funded through alumni and community generosity.

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In 1948 PMC began building Memorial Library to meet accreditation standards and modernize student resources. Delayed by funding shortages, the project resumed after a major campaign. By 1952, staff and students moved 20,000 volumes into the new Georgian‑style building honoring Lt. William J. Wolfram.

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In 2000, PMC alumni and university leaders gathered to dedicate the PMC Museum, preserving the history and traditions of Pennsylvania Military College for future generations.

Words by Professor Homer Nearing, Jr and Music by Charles A. Bartlett, '54.

Listen to the Alma Mater

During Homecoming 1967, cadets orchestrated a bold overnight prank, painting a revered Sherman tank pink and transforming campus landmarks. The elaborate stunt, led by student leaders, culminated in a surprise pep rally, blending humor and school spirit while uniting cadets and students in a memorable tradition.

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The Junior Ring Dance marked a cadet’s transition to upperclassman status. Held in the beautifully decorated Hyatt Armory, Juniors received their class rings, walked through a towering replica ring, and celebrated with renowned orchestras—creating one of PMC’s most cherished memories.

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For generations, PMC classes marked their departure by burying their textbooks, uniforms, and mementos in handmade coffins, leaving behind engraved tombstones across campus. Revived by the Class of 1949, the tradition endured through 1972, when the final stone—“The Last Class”—commemorated the Corps’ disbandment.

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Designed in 1965, the PMC emblem features the Corps colors, an armored horse’s head, William Penn’s roundels, and markings for PMC’s three relocations. Its crest includes a keystone, Civil War swords, and a scroll reading “Virtue, Liberty, and Independence,” reflecting the College’s origins and ideals.

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Founded after the 1873 Commencement, the PMC Alumni Association fostered fellowship and preserved shared memories. Open to graduates, former students, and supporters, it was incorporated in 1891 and later adopted a seal symbolizing loyalty, brotherhood, and humanity.

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For generations, PMC Commencement drew huge crowds for its formal procession, awards, and Corps review. The day ended with the alumni broom drill and the Hollow Square tribute, where fallen alumni were remembered as Taps sounded.

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The PMC class ring is rich with symbolism: eagles looking to past and future, the Pennsylvania keystone, crossed rifles and sabers, the Great Seal, torches of knowledge, and a wreath for “Virtue, Liberty, and Independence.” Its gold and single star reflect honor, unity, and lifelong devotion.

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When explosions devastated the Eddystone Ammunition Plant in 1917, PMC cadets rushed to assist. Under Captain Lewis Morey, they helped restore order, supported emergency crews, and managed crowds at makeshift hospitals. Their calm discipline earned public praise during one of the region’s worst industrial tragedies.

Following desegregation, PMC welcomed its first African-American cadets in the late 1950s. Despite national tensions, these pioneers formed strong bonds with classmates. Stories like shared defiance against segregation highlight a culture of unity, respect, and brotherhood that defined their experience and lasting legacy at PMC.

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Starting in 1950, PMC celebrated Mother’s Day with a formal parade where cadets honored their mothers with red roses. The event featured awards and the promotion of standout freshmen to Cadet Corporal for excellence in leadership and academics, strengthening bonds between families and the Corps of Cadets.

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At PMC’s 1929 Commencement, Sioux leader Red Tomahawk bestowed on General Charles Hyatt the title “Warrior Thunder Hawk,” presenting him with a 300‑feather war bonnet symbolizing peace. Hyatt joined a select group of global figures to receive this rare tribal honor.

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