It was a brisk, late spring day at West Point. The blue sky retained a few white clouds, and the sun attempted to coax the temperature above 60 degrees, foiled a bit by an intermittent breeze. As the reunion classes began to form at the clock tower of Pershing Barracks (formerly the West Academic Building) at 0945, a red crane and a yellow cheery picker stood watch over a fenced, massive hole in the ground where Patton’s statue recently had stood and the Corps Squad tennis courts had been years earlier. Excavation had been completed for the new Jefferson Library, and reinforcing rods pointed skyward among wooden forms as the foundation began to take shape. Change again was in the air at West Point, with the old library eventually slated to become an extension of Bartlett Hall, formerly the East Academic Building.
Precisely at 1020, the march down Diagonal Walk began, led by the seven Distinguished Graduates to be honored and BG (Retired) Miller Osborne Perry ’31, the oldest graduate present, who was attending his 75th Reunion. Born on 13 June 1907, he is only a few weeks shy of 99 years of age. Following, close order, behind him were the other members of his class, as well as phalanxes from the Classes of ’26, ’41, ’46 and ’56. BG Perry used a walker for stability but otherwise participated proudly and stood tall. He still drives his car and emails his family every day. Behind the Class of ’56 came an assorted group of graduates not in reunion cycle, including a number of friends and classmates of the seven graduates to be honored.
Proceeding past Eisenhower’s statue to military marches familiar from their cadet days, the graduates then turned right near MacArthur’s statue and deployed between two lines of cadets in full dress and took a position facing the statue of Sylanus Thayer. The Cadet Glee Club, off to the right of the assembled graduates, near the Superintendent’s quarters, began the singing of the Alma Mater, and many graduates joined in. A prayer of remembrance was offered for fallen comrades and all those who gave their last measure of devotion in defense of our country, and the traditional wreath was placed before the Father of the Military Academy by BG Perry ‘31 and First Captain Stephanie Hightower ’06. This day, the Long Gray Line stretched through at least 75 years. Then, after a rousing rendition of The Corps by the Glee Club, the graduates fell out and assembled on the reviewing line to receive a review by the 1st and 2nd Regiments of the Corps of Cadets. During these alumni events preceding Graduation Week 2006, the USMA Band played the march “Steadfast Leadership” for the first time. Written by CPT Dwayne Milburn, it was commissioned by the Class of ’56.
During the ceremony, Distinguished Graduate medals were awarded to LTG (Ret.) Richard G. Trefry ’50; Mr. Herbert S. Lichtenberg ’55; COL (Ret.) Arthur E. Dewey ’56; MG (Ret.) Nicholas S. Krawciw ’59; GEN (Ret.) Wayne A. Downing ’62; BG (Ret.) Howard T. Prince, II, ’62; and Mr. Thomas B. Dyer ’67.
Among many other accomplishments during their lifetimes of distinguished service, LTG Trefry was honored for his redirecting of the Inspector General function and founding the Army Force Management School; Mr. Lichtenberg for a lifetime of ethical business leadership and philanthropy to West Point; COL Dewey for his international accomplishments with the United Nations and other refugee/humanitarian relief agencies; MG Krawciw for his valor in combat, contributions to maneuver doctrine and the transformation of the Ukranian Army; GEN Downing for his extensive contributions in the field of Special Operations; BG Prince for his accomplishments as first Head of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at West Point and his later work in establishing similar leadership programs at other institutions; and Mr. Dyer for his extensive personal and professional contributions to the ultimate success of the Bicentennial campaign as Chairman of the West Point Fund Committee, 1996-2001, and as Chairman of the AOG, 2002-05
As the Field Music section moved off The Plain, classmates and friends descended upon the honorees with best wishes and requests for photographs, while the reunion classes formed in the stands for their commemorative group photos. Eventually, as clouds gathered and a chill was in the wind, honorees, reunion classes, spouses, family and friends moved across The Plain towards Washington Hall and the traditional Alumni Luncheon. Guests of the Distinguished Graduates totaled over 100, while the Class of ’31 assembled 17; ’36 had 45; and ’41 had 85. The Class of ’46 required 37 tables in the D Wing for its 370 classmates and guests, while the Class of ’56 put its 530 on 53 tables in the F Wing of Washington Hall.
As coffee appeared on the tables following the meal, framed citations were presented to the seven Distinguished Graduates. Then the Class of ’46 presented a check for $360,000 to support an ongoing class program that sends cadets to countries such as Syria and Egypt to study language, and the Class of ’56 presented a check for $2,500,000, symbolic of payment for the completed Class of ’56 Walkway connecting the Holleder Center, named for Don Holleder ’56, and Randall Hall, donated by Bob and Marcia Randall ’56. The walkway includes a memorial to members of the Class of ’56 who gave their lives for our country, plus a series of displays documenting the era of the Cold War.
Upon concluding remarks by the AOG Chairman, these older graduates made their way down the steps of Washington Hall en route to other reunion activities. The sun had come back out in force, and Graduation Week for the Class of 2006 soon would be a flurry of activity, climaxing with Graduation Parade on Friday and Graduation itself on Saturday morning, with President Bush as commencement speaker. Rain is possible for both events.
By the way, you can view the latest on the construction of the new library at: http://www.library.usma.edu/jeffhall/construction.asp.
Your humble servant, J. Phoenix, Esquire