The Long Gray Line
Anyone from Ricochet attend the Army game today? We've just returned home after almost 12 hours at West Point, where the family celebrated my father's 75th birthday and my nephew's membership in the West Point Class of '14.
It was a sunny September day on the Hudson, and Army even won. We tailgated by the Plain. No one locks his car, and you leave all your stuff out even when you go to the stadium for the game -- cameras, wine, cell phones, etc. -- without a second thought. We have a friend who is on the faculty, who introduced us to some of his friends: every one in his or her 30s, and every one having had best friends who never made the trip home from Iraq or Afghanistan. All my children and my nieces and nephews looked at their plebe cousin with awe and wonder, sensing something different about him.
For me it was just an overwhelming sense of gratitude: for the place, for my nephew, and for knowing that he is among other young men and women of character. I left the Plain just grateful, with a keen sense of how inadequate that gratitude must be.
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Re: The Long Gray Line
Sounds like a wonderful experience for everyone there, and a life changing experience for your nephew. My thanks and best wishes to him.
Jun '10
Re: The Long Gray Line
What is it with both you guys, Bill and Dave I mean, today? Two absolutely evocative and poignant threads lined up one after the other (I read from bottom up). You guys should coordinate this better, as I can't take this much good writing in one place. Thank you both.
Re: The Long Gray Line
Cas Balicki
What is it with both you guys, Bill and Dave I mean, today? Two absolutely evocative and poignant threads lined up one after the other (I read from bottom up). You guys should coordinate this better, as I can't take this much good writing in one place. Thank you both. · Sep 18 at 8:10pm
It's the voices.... they won't stop.
Jun '10
Re: The Long Gray Line
Our family was at the game and I must say Mr. Mcgurn hit the nail on the head. Just so many wonderful young men and women.
How sad it is that Army is not in Ivy League as wouldn't it do our elites well to show up at those games and see this wonderful scene and setting. ------
There was a young cadet, parents from Africa (and in the garb to let you know it). Their daughter was a second year. Now, I have been out of America for 17 years, but I can say with little chance of being wrong, that no place else would I be drinking beer with a guy who came over from Africa in the 70's, and his daughter is a second year at a place like West Point... What a great place America can be...
Although, good god, the Army players are tiny...
Edited on Sep 19, 2010 at 6:26amMay '10
Re: The Long Gray Line
Very moving! Thanks for reminding us of that special place and those special young men and women. God bless them all.
Re: The Long Gray Line
Thanks,Dave, Cas, Mark, Oleneo65. Cas, at least in my case it was not about eloquence. It was about what I think most of us feel when they see that Corps of Cadets. I remember once reading a pundit alleging how dangerously out of touch our officers are with America. All I know is that standing at West Point, I had a different experience. The officers who teach there are young, have led men and women in battle, have lost good friends, have known the responsibility for the lives of others. I wonder if it's the rest of us who are out of touch. I watch my sister sitting next to her son in his plebe's uniform, fearful of what awaits him -- will he be sent to Afghanistan? -- yet oh so proud that he's stepped forward to take that responsibility.
West Point, by the way, is open to the public. If ever you have the chance, go visit, tour around the spectacular grounds, have lunch at the Hotel Thayer. You will be glad you did.