Yearling Flag Ceremony-West Point, NY, July 14, 2009

joined by my classmates bill dworsak and bernie sKown, it is a pleasure and an honor to represent the class of 1962 in today’s class flag presentation ceremony.

Over the years, flags have traditionally served three functions within our army: identification of troops and positions; maintenance of morale and esprit de corps; and sometimes as a tool used to discipline the troops.

American soldiers have traditionally identified themselves with the flag, or colors, of the regiment in which they were serving at any given time.  The ideals and honor of the regiment are embodied within and represented by the regimental flag. The flag is the symbol of the regiment.  For soldiers, the flag tells the story of who they are and where they come from.

Flags and colors are designed to set one unit apart from others, to proudly display the unique characteristics of the unit, and serve to help build a sense of esprit de corps.  Unit colors are thus flown prominently on parade, at ceremonies and other appropriate unit assemblies.

On the battlefields of days gone by, the colors had the added importance of guiding the troops in the field. With scores of regiments and thousands of men often involved in the chaos and confusion of combat, the flags served as a way of keeping the various units together. A soldier who might become separated from his regiment could look for the unit’s colors to be reunited with his regiment.

Because a regiment’s flag was a source of immense pride and because such steps were taken to protect it, the colors also played a prominent role in the disciplining of troops. For troops who had misbehaved, or performed poorly, a serious blow could be dealt to the unit’s pride by stripping them of their flags. The hope was that, in order to have their colors returned, the men would work that much harder to prove they were worthy of the banners.

Within the traditions of the Corps, the first Class to receive a Class Flag from its 50 Year Affiliation Class was the Class of 2001.  Every Class since then has received a Class Flag as part of the Camp Buckner awards ceremony.   The first “official act” connected with the Flag is for it to accompany you on your run back to West Point.   After that, the Flag has traditionally been at the great majority of Class events here at West Point (Affirmation Ceremony, Ring Weekend, 500th and 100th Nights, Graduation, etc.).  When the last person in the Class graduates (at the December graduation), the Flag is held at Herbert Hall for the Class, to be used by the Class for special events (funerals, promotions, and events of that nature).

So as these next three years unfold, we, the Class of 1962, want you, the Class of 2012, to hold this flag which we have presented to you today, in the same high esteem enjoyed traditionally by military colors throughout the years, as well as in keeping with today’s tradition within the Corps.  We want this flag to always remind you who we are and where we come from.  We, the Class of 1962, want you to know we are your handhold withiin the Long Gray Line, whose members have answered the Country’s call to duty and have served her with honor for more than 200 years.  By way of this flag we “grip hands” with you here today.   And as we do so, we want to encourage you as a class to always endeavor to honor the Corps, -- and the Corps, --and the Corps.

lastly, on behalf of the Class of 1962, i extend

Congratulations to each of you on completing your Buckner training, and thus preparing yourselves for the responsibilities of being noncommissioned officers within the Corps of Cadets.  As you do so, bear in mind also that 2009 has been designated as the Year of the NCO within the Army.  We trust therefore that you will perform your duties not only in keeping with the high traditional standards of the army, but with even greater dedication, distinction, excellence and pride.

congratulations also to those army Ncos out there with you.  as the backbone of our army, you make us all proud to be americans.

’62 – can do.

2012 – for more than ourselves.

army strong.

beat navy!

MG Fred Gorden, USA Ret., class of 1962

You can see and listen to this speech at the following site:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRfYXSmkXrA

Picture from flag presentation ceremony:  http://www.westpointaog.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=3588