Dreams came true this June when brothers from the Tennessee Kappa Chapter, SigEp Vets and the NUTS! McAuliffe Society fulfilled a promise to the son of a fallen brother with a little Disney magic.

When Army Sergeant Israel “Izzy” O’Bryan, Tennessee-Martin ’08, died June 11, 2010, in Iraq by a suicide attacker in an explosives-rigged car, his SigEp brothers made a promise. The men of the Tennessee Kappa Chapter, SigEp Vets and the NUTS! McAuliffe Society promised to take O’Bryan’s 1-year-old son, Turner, and his family on an all-expenses paid trip to Disneyland when he was older.

Mobilization to make this dream a reality came from nationwide support as brothers from these three groups worked tirelessly to share O’Bryan’s story for this worthy cause. Brothers donated funds in memory of their beloved brother to pass forward the legacy of brotherhood to Turner.

“We have a great network of brothers that are really supportive of our military and our military membership,” Renato Villacorte, CalPoly-Pomona ’91, district governor, said. “If you say the right word to the right set of guys, you can get a whole lot of things happening really quickly.”

Through the bond of brotherhood, these brothers fundraised enough money to take Turner and his family to have some fun in sunny California with Mickey Mouse as his guide and the spirit of SigEp behind him. In addition to Disneyland, Turner also laughed and played at Disney California Adventure and Legoland.

Villacorte and Tennessee Kappa Chapter Counselor James Truett ’02, followed closely behind Turner and his family, proudly wearing their SigEp letters.

“We had to get that picture with Turner in our letters,” Villacorte said. “For me, it meant that we were still there for Turner, still there representing Izzy’s brotherhood. Wearing our letters with him in that photo was the key moment that signifies SigEp is still there for him.”

While Turner may have made new friends with Donald Duck and Pluto, he has endless support with his father’s brothers surrounding him in the spirit of brotherly love.

“It is a lifetime experience for these two alumni [Villacorte and Truett] that were there backing up Turner to show that we are always going to be there for him,” Villacorte said.