Members of the Eastern regional staff attend the re-dedication ceremony at the gravesite of Jewel George Biddle Kelley. Cemetery. The remaining monies were placed in a special reserve fund to be used for the beautification and maintenance of the grave site of Jewel Brother George Biddle Kelley. It was at this time that an interest group of undergraduates at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was created. These young men had expressed a genuine desire to become a part of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Dylan Thomas was the spearhead of this effort. Unfortunately, he was killed on Thanksgiving Day in 1981 just prior to the initiation of the pledges at RPI into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. One of the projects of this group was to develop a plan for the beautification of the grave site of George Biddle Kelley. Originally, the undergraduate Brothers were affiliated with Beta Pi Lambda Chapter. On February 21, 1983, Omicron Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha was formed and installed at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The Brothers of the undergraduate chapter met with the Brothers of the graduate chapter and presented their plan for the rehabilitation of the grave site. The graduate chapter authorized the Brothers at RPI to proceed with their plans and assured them that the funds were available to do the work. It was stressed that
Jewel George Biddle Kelley is finally at rest in surroundings befitting a founder of Alpha. the work should be completed by June of 1983 since a staff conference of the Eastern Region would convene at RPI in June. On Sunday, June 21st a rededication service of the grave site of Jewel George Biddle Kelley was held at New Mt. Ida Cemetery. Representatives from several of the chapters in New York State, plus general officers and officers throughout the Eastern Region attended the service. The Brothers of Omicron Upsilon had done an outstanding job and it was felt by all who attended the service that Jewel George Biddle Kelley was now at rest in an environment that
was more fitting a founder of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. The Brothers of Omicron Upsilon Chapter have volunteered to function as caretakers of the grave site and the Brothers of Beta Pi Lambda Chapter have committed themselves to take whatever steps necessary to not only keep the grave site in its present condition but to continue to improve it. As of June 21, 1983, Jewel Brother George Biddle Kelley is finally at rest in surroundings befitting a founder of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. It has been a tradition in families to preserve and cherish valuable jewels and heirlooms that have been passed down from one generation to another. It would also hold that the Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha have seven precious Jewels that should be cared for with equal intensity and concern. Sometimes the setting of those Jewels might become tarnished or worn out and it is our responsibility to refurbish and recast those Jewels in settings that befit their brilliance. This is a challenge that must be met by all of the Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha — not only with respect to the grave site of Jewel Brother George Biddle Kelley, but also the grave sites of the other six Jewels.