March 16th in 1802, West Point began its work. Today is known as Founder's Day, West Point's 219th birthday. Thanks to Jim for a fascinating lesson in this impressive institution's history:
It's job has been first to provide the Nation with officers for the Regular Army, from the ranks of its citizens, so we would not have hereditary or purchased commands, like Europe and elsewhere. The first graduates were meant to be combat engineers and artillerists, ordinance engineers, construction engineers, surveyors and scouts. As time went on, the mission became to furnish officers primarily to the combat arms and overall to forge leaders of character for the country, during active service and then afterwards.
West Point, The Gray Rock on the Hudson, home of the Black Knights, has produced a brotherhood known as the Long Gray Line, and Whitey, Whitey's Dad, Signe's Dad, and Gus and I are glad to be part of that Line, as is the brother of Nicole Sullivan. Boompa's first cousin, Brigadier General Joseph Barzynski, was a member of the Class of 1934. George Ronan, a relative of our great-great grandmother, Mary Ronan, was in the Class of 1811, and was the first West Pointer ever killed in action. He met his fate at the Fort Dearborn Massacre in 1812, at the Chicago River bridge right on Michigan Avenue today.
Our brother John and Dr. John Ullmen, being graduates of the Air Force Academy, are younger Brothers of the Line, since the Air Force was born out of the Army Air Corps. Big Sully, an Army Aviator, would proudly wear the colors of the Air Force if he were alive today.
The first graduate, Joseph Gardner Swift, graduated on 12 October 1802, with Simon Magruder Levy. Their Cullum Numbers, in the Line, are 1 and 2. Mine is 29460 and the last graduate in 2015, is 71,447.
West Point has faithfully sent her sons, and daughters, into harm's way, in all its varieties, whenever and wherever it is. About 1250 have been killed in action. She was the first permanent installation of the U. S. Army, and was the campground for the Continental Army. The "Rabble" slept on the ground that today is the Plain. The British never took West Point, although Benedict Arnold gave them the plans of the defenses. Koscziusko built a hanging garden there, still there, next to the river, and Von Steuben and Lafayette stayed there with General Washington.
My classmate, Col. Don Blakeslee from Chicago, a surgeon called back to active duty and stationed at the Army hospital at West Point to free up a surgeon for Afghanistan, lives at the Academy now and his beautiful wife Betsy, whom I have known for 53 years, is now the custodian of Koscziusko's Garden, bringing it back to life as that Polish general and hero of our Revolution originally planted it. She has been honored by the Polish government for that labor.
West Point is our Alma Mater. She raised us in the ethic of service and her motto, "Duty, Honor, Country," rings in our hearts, next to our class's motto, "Serve with Integrity." She is ours, belonging to us all as citizens. The Corps of Cadets has always been called "The Rabble."
Below is a poem I wrote about the Rabble.
Happy Birthday, West Point. May you have as many more birthdays as does our beloved Nation. God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.
Love,
Seamus the Older
USMA '70
