This past week I had the honor of attending my new husband’s 54th U.S. Military Academy Class of ’72 reunion. Every five years the reunion is held at West Point, with the intervening four years at various locations across the country. This year’s reunion was held in Louisville, Kentucky.
I was raised in a family where honor and love of country were taught and expected. My father and brother went to military preparatory academies, my grandfathers fought in world wars, and my dad remained in the Army Reserves for many years. But I did not know anyone who attended any of our nation’s military academies for their college years.
A man (or woman now since all the academies admit women) who graduates from West Point has a five-year commitment to serve our country. Some, like my husband Dennis, served a longer time, some served an entire career, and some served just their five-year commitment. Many left the military to work in defense related industries in civilian careers.
One of the first things that struck me as Dennis and I attended the opening registration and the “meet and greet” was the age of the attendees. I’m one to talk since I am only a few years younger than those in Dennis’s reunion class, but I guess once we reach our 70’s our minds just can’t quite grasp that reality. Our bodies may show 70+ years of wear and tear, but our minds think we are still in our 30’s. And added to that mental disconnect was the picture on each of the men’s name tags – these were their cadet pictures from 1972. Even my husband admitted he had to read the names sometimes because otherwise he would never have recognized his classmate.
I knew that his years at West Point had shaped Dennis. I knew he had made strong and lasting close friendships. I knew he had maintained these friendships for over 54 years. But what I did not realize was the unbreakable bond and love of country and each other that connected these men.
While there were fun excursions to horse farms, bourbon tours, and races at Churchill Downs for the attendees, the two events that encapsulated the essence of West Point and the character of these men were the Memorial Service and the last night’s dinner.
At each reunion there is a memorial service for classmates who have passed where each man’s name is spoken. This year the service was at the Cathedral of the Assumption, a beautiful church in downtown Louisville. One hundred and forty men were honored for their service to this country, whether long or short. The closing hymn was “God Bless America”. In the Cadet’s Prayer which closed the service were the following lines: “Make us choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never be content with a half-truth when the whole can be won.” That night a banquet was held to close the reunion. The evening began with all of us reciting the Pledge of Allegiance as we stood facing our nation’s flag. An opera singer led as we sung the National Anthem.
One of Dennis’s personal traits that initially caused my interest in him was the fact that he was a West Point graduate. For me, that mere fact spoke well of Dennis’s character. And I was not mistaken, for my husband is a man of honor, duty, and love of country. But it took the experience of this 54th Class of ’72 West Point reunion for me to truly understand how West Point has shaped the lives of those men who stepped onto the sacred grounds of the United States Military Academy as very young men. Yes, once they were young, but they have striven to maintain the honor of the Corps, having sought throughout the years “a courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble and worthy.”
Duty, Honor, Country. What else is there to say?