 |
|
On Selfless Service |
|
This is a little pep talk. Many of you have heard it before and grasp it's importance. For you, this is a recall of something precious. Some of you have not heard it before and for you this is an introduction to something wonderful and precious and also something cautionary. There is no higher honor than serving soldiers nor greater privilege than serving with soldiers. By this I indicate that there is no higher honor than serving military personnel nor greater privilege than serving with military personnel. However, since we are in the orbit of West Point I will use the word soldiers and ask to be understood to indicate all military personnel, of all ranks and every honorable status. No degree, no rank, no title, no office, no wealth, no accomplishment, no station by birth or merit, no physical, intellectual, mental, moral or spiritual excellence -- not anything in this world or the next equals or exceeds the honor of serving soldiers or the privilege of serving with soldiers. The reason is simple. Soldiers have offered, will offer and/or in principle do offer their lives to protect our nation, and specifically our Constitution, which establishes the freedom through self-government that we enjoy and humanity regards as a cynosure. General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, 12 May 1962, receiving the Sylvanus Thayer Award: "... The soldier, above all other men, is required to practice the greatest act of religious training - sacrifice. In battle and in the face of danger and death, he discloses those divine attributes which his Maker gave when he created man in his own image. No physical courage and no brute instinct can take the place of the Divine help which alone can sustain him. However horrible the incidents of war may be, the soldier who is called upon to offer and to give his life for his country, is the noblest development of mankind. ...." You and I have the honor of serving and the privilege of serving with soldiers. Usually our initial contact with soldiers is with West Pointers. However through our activities in our West Point Community we serve and serve with many soldiers who are not West Pointers but are soldiers. Our service must have the same totality of selflessness that soldiers practice as their profession. We must deserve to serve by making our service like theirs: eager, intelligent, sweet, comprehensive, effective and devoid of ego, self-promotion and regard for return. Cadet Thomas Jonathan Jackson, later the great "Stonewall Jackson," Lieutenant General Commanding, II Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, to his diary: "Strive for a great elevation of character." and "Duty is ours. Consequences are God's." I urge us to "go and do likewise." David
R. Graham |