Reflections on West Point – 20 Years Later

Last month, my family and I attended my 20th reunion at the United States Military Academy at West Point. In 1994, I graduated from West Point and began my service in the United States Army. Time sure does fly. It seems like just yesterday that my classmates and I were Plebes (freshmen) who had no idea what we had gotten ourselves into, up well before dawn to deliver newspapers to the upperclassmen, shine our shoes, prepare for class, and make our rooms spotless for morning inspection. It also seems like just yesterday that more than a few of my classmates and I headed off as Second Lieutenants to keep the peace in Bosnia. Since then, many of those classmates have gone on to do much braver and important things than I could ever take credit for. It was great to reconnect with my classmates. To see them now not as bewildered Cadets, but as fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, and for some, Lieutenant Colonels and Colonels. I remember how proud we were to pin on those Second Lieutenant gold bars, now some of those same friends have the silver eagles of the "Full Bird" Colonel. Amazing.

More importantly, it was great to see West Point through the eyes of my own kids and to interact with the current members of the Corps of Cadets. These young men and women come from every corner of the country, every race, and every income level. They have voluntarily given up the "college experience" for four years of discipline and hard work before many of them will go directly into harm's way for our country. The fact that I used to be one of them did not stop me from admiring these young people and how uniformly courteous, kind and friendly they were to me and my family. How ready and responsible they seemed at such a young age. The future of our military is in good hands.

A story from my mom illustrates what I mean. My mom and dad came down to help out with my niece and younger kids while my wife, my two older boys, and I watched the Army-Ball State football game at Michie Stadium on the Saturday of my reunion. Like any other college football game, the scene around the stadium before the game is crowded and chaotic. My mom was afraid that one of the little kids would get away from her and get lost in the crowd until she had a very comforting idea. She pointed the Cadets out to the kids and explained to them that you could tell who they were because of their uniforms. She told them that if they got lost, they could ask any one of those young men and women for help and they would be safe. In how many places could a grandmother trust her grandkids with a stranger and know things would be OK?

I am proud of my school and offer my prayers for the safety and success of the next members of the Long Gray Line. Beat Navy.