NOVEMBER 2000

  Repeatedly I waited for the cadets to answer a question, and when they didn't I raised my hand. Finally the Colonel said "Well, it seems HE'S read the assignment!" as he scanned the class with a jaundiced eye.  Mission accomplished.
  Dinner was mess at Washington Hall.  The food was unimpressive, but the way our cadet took over was a far cry from her behavior at home. That night, back at our hotel, she and her mother watched TV and giggled like school girls at a sleepover for hours. The next day was the parade and review. As on Acceptance Day, to stand so proudly once again when the colors pass, with all those who feel the same way about our country and our cadets, was more than merely inspiring. It causes me to pity those who believe in nothing beyond themselves. Lunch was again in the mess hall, followed by the TAC's briefing and a Uniform fashion show. Then we visited the rooms, while plebes acted out a knowledge hazing. That night was the banquet. Here it was made clear that West Point shapes the whole person; producing ladies and gentlemen of refinement. Our daughter, another young lady and a young man were gracious hosts, and witty conversationalists. When I asked the other young lady if her English professor was cutting and polishing her diamond-in-the-rough writing skill, she said "No sir.  He's taking a sledgehammer to it."
  The bands of the Black Watch and the Prince of Wales Division was what I had been waiting for, and I was not disappointed. Even my wife, who used to think a bagpipe sounded like a cat in extremis, thoroughly enjoyed the show. Our daughter slept on her mother's shoulder, until I signaled a wandering post horn player to approach her while blasting away.
  On Sunday we visited our daughter's refuge from worldly travails; the basement of the Catholic chapel where she cares for pre-schoolers. The kids were well behaved, adorable and precocious. Then there was mass, leisurely lunch at Pizza Hut, and finally the tearful goodbyes.
  The melancholy beauty of the Point that weekend, with the foliage just beyond its color peak and the gray stones looming up in the cold air, seemed timeless; as if the leaders and struggles of the past were at One with those of the future. I saw a painting with this theme in the PX. It depicted the confrontation with the R-Day Red Sashes, while MacArthur's ghosts in blue, gray, khaki and BDUs looked on: A continuous line of leadership and sacrifice for almost two hundred years. As I drove our daughter back to the barracks late Friday night, she gave notice of a quiet turning point in her life. "I can't wait to come home for the holidays," she said, "but I know I'm excited

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because I'll be coming back as who and what I am now. When I started Beast I felt like I was just visiting a strange foreign country.  Now West Point is my home." Best regards, David Churchill Barrow
 
Miller Family:  Our family had not been to West Point so this was a big deal for us. We flew in a couple of days early since we also have family in NJ. We also picked up Tommy's girlfriend who would be enjoying PPW with us. When we got to WP everyone was amazed at how large and beautiful it was.  Everyone was anxious to meet up with Tommy.  The kids bailed out of the car to get a head start to meet Tommy, while we found a parking space. My husband and I could not find and walk fast enough to see our Cadet. Of course those dreaded tears welled up when I saw him. He looked so grown up.  We sent a boy and now have a man.
  We went to the academic open house which was awesome. Teachers knowing your child's name and their progress (We have a daughter in college with over 300 kids in most classes). We did so many things I'll highlight our favorites.  TAC briefing, tours of rooms...haven't seen a room Tom has ever occupied looking like that!!, meeting roommates,  practice parade, taking our cadet and roommate to dinner, dessert, and just getting away. The formal review, formal dinner, and the dance, going to church with our cadet, seeing snow with all our children & Tom's girlfriend who has never seen snow, and the WP museum.  The best part was our family all together spending time together.  We were so impressed with the architecture, the history, and the quality of West Point. I think we could go on forever about WP, but I guess we are most impressed and proud of Tommy.  Our daughter in college was also impressed enough to apply for a nomination.  She has already had her interview and now the waiting begins.

Rush Family:  After spending weeks trying to put together a cold weather wardrobe along with formal evening attire, Jerry and I ventured off on Thursday ..destination Stewart International, NY. The flight was wonderful and speckled with "dates" and other parents traveling for PPW.  We weren't able to attend "A" Day and were able to view some wonderful photos in air by very gracious parents from Indiana…
  1st stop...the uniform factory (as recommended on "The Forum")...a well-hidden, out-of-the-way brick building.  Lucking out with a parking spot near Ike Hall, we huffed up the hill to the factory.  The weather was gorgeous, I was really hesitant about the purchase of a