Duty, Honor, Country – 50th Anniversary

On May 12, 1962, U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur accepted the Sylvanus Thayer Award and delivered a remarkable speech to the corps of cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Since 1958, the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy has presented the Sylvanus Thayer Award to an outstanding citizen of the United States whose service and accomplishments in the national interest exemplify personal devotion to the ideals expressed in the West Point motto, “Duty, Honor, Country.”  2012 marks the 50th anniversary of General Douglas MacArthur’s “Duty, Honor, Country” speech at West Point. You can read MacArthur’s moving farewell at http://tinyurl.com/apd-macarthur . His words eloquently describe our men and women in uniform:

  • “Duty, Honor, Country: Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be.”
  • “Your mission remains fixed, determined, inviolable: it is to win our wars. Everything else in your professional career is but corollary to this vital dedication.”
  • “You stand as the Nation’s war-guardian, as its lifeguard from the raging tides of international conflict.”
  • “The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace.”

The following site has a list of interesting facts about MacArthur, including a fascinating 28 minute video was made by the U.S. Army about the life and military career of General MacArthur.  It is narrated by CBS newsman Walter Cronkite.

http://www.keytlaw.com/f-4/general-macarthurs-duty-honor-country-speech/

Many West Point graduates, cadets, family and friends are not yet members of the LinkedIn network. Please click this link to read and join the West Point Friends and Family Network on LinkedIn. http://www.linkedin.com/e/vgh/2533382/