West Point (USMA), New York

“To travel Is to live.”  Hans Christian Andersen

                I’m back on West Point, the Army’s military academy again after being away for a year.   I love this place so much and my fondness grows every time I come back to see our old home.  This place is so special.   Joe and I lived here in the late 1980’s with our two children, Jeannine and Jason and with a baby on the way.   Our son, Joshua was born at Keller Army Hospital on West Point on a fine fall day in 1988.   We lived so close to the hospital, we were able to walk there to have our baby.   What a special day that was.  Fall was always beautiful here with spectacular fall colors vibrantly coloring the mountains surrounding our little Heaven. 

We have so many fond memories of living in this fine academic environment.   The energy from the cadets makes the entire post come alive.   Joe was selected to work here as a Gold Coat (a computer specialist who wears a gold coat so he could be easily recognized and who was there for the cadets for academic work, teaching, and networking issues).  He felt very honored getting this prestigious position and loved every minute of his time with the cadets.   Our young family so enjoyed living here and we were lucky enough to make some lifelong friends while being stationed here.   We loved sledding at the school in the winter on beautiful snowy days, walking to the Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Sundays, relaxing with the children at Delafield Pond in the summer, and going to the movies with the cadets.   We loved that they played the National Anthem before the movie started and everyone stood at attention.  Then during the movie,  hearing the comments made by the cadets  always added another dimension to each movie we saw.   We were blessed by being able to sponsor five cadets and have many Sundays enjoying our time with them.   They came over to relax, kick off their shoes, eat and enjoy fellowship, and play with our children.   We loved hearing their stories of everyday life at the academy and our children looked up to them as they were all excellent role models.   If you are ever blessed enough to be stationed here, be a sponsor if you can.  It will enhance your stay here and make life at the Point more special.  

The outside concerts at the amphitheater were special times with the children running about with their friends and us having a picnic lunch and a bottle of wine enjoy while listening to the USMA band play.   The band is amazing and the musicians are all so talented.  We loved all their concerts.   Look up their schedule and go spend an evening out listening to their fine music.     Those days couldn’t have been more perfect with the view of the Hudson River in the background. We still come to see the fourth of July concert every year and get to watch the new cadets being marched in for the concert and fireworks.   So impressive and quite the thrill seeing all 1300 plus cadets march into the amphitheater.  It really makes you proud to see such fine, outstanding young men and women representing the best of the best.      West Point was and is a magical place to us then and now.  

The history of USMA started with President Jefferson signed the papers making West Point the first military academy in our nation in 1802.   That year there were only ten cadets and five teachers.   It is hard to imagine it was ever that small since today there are more than 4,400 young men and women cadets.   The beauty of this academy is not just in the architecture built from gray granite but also in its location in the mountains and with the Hudson River flowing gently by.   There are places where the buildings seem to rise right out of the granite and another area where a train goes directly under the building.     The Hudson River does a crazy S turn at West Point which made this a great defensive post.  During the Revolutionary War a 150-ton iron chain was placed across the river to keep boats from going up towards New England.   There is still a portion of the chain at Trophy Point across from the Plain so you can see the enormity of the chain.  Trophy Point has one of the most beautiful views of the Hudson River and not to be missed. 

  You have to go see it and walk along and see all the cannons from various wars in the shaded tree covered park.   You can see Victory Monument, on a hill above the amphitheater, honoring the officers and soldiers who were killed during the Civil War.   What a beautiful impressive monument and memorial to those we lost.

                The Plain is very impressive to see.  It is one of the only flat areas on post and is the cadets parade ground.   If you look across the field, there are large double wooden doors in the middle of Washington Hall which leads into the messhall.   This is where all the cadets eat all their meals family style at the same time. Just imagine the organized chaos that must go on to get all the meals made and served at the same time.    The messhall is a very impressive room with long tables and chairs set up for meals and impressive tall ceilings.    Eisenhower wing is located on the left side of the building with the Macarther wing on the right side of the messhall.   Since we lived on post, they have built a new Library to the left of Washington Hall and on the right side, up on the hill, is the beautiful Cadet Chapel standing proud.

    The Superintendents home is on the right side of the field with Arvin gym behind.  They have added on a lot to the gym since we lived there.   When there is a parade on the Plain, the cadets march out of the porticals and march in perfect step with the USMA band playing military marches.   It is so impressive seeing over 4,000 cadets on the field at the same time and all in harmony marching to the beat of the drums.   If you can ever get a chance to see one of the parades, please do.   It will give you goose bumps and if you are like me, will bring a tear or two to your eyes.  

The Cadet Chapel is a beautiful building sitting high above the Plain.  What an impressive building to see and so majestic.   It was built in 1911 and is used for Protestant services.  This building is one of the ten most beautiful buildings in America.   The stained glass windows are brilliant and so detailed.   The Willet Company made the windows starting in 1902 and because they loved the academy so, they only charged only $275 for each window from the first window in 1902, to when they finished their last window in 1976.   When you  walk into the chapel,  you will see all the hymnals and Bibles all perfectly lined up on every pew.   The flags down the center isle are from the War of 1812, Spanish-American War, the Civil War, and the Mexican War.

  There is also the largest pipe organ in a church in the world.   Not all the pipes are there now since an electrical storm that did damage to some of the organs pipes but they are slowly being replaced.   Cadets are not allowed to be married while they are going to the academy so for the week after graduation, this church has a wedding an hour.   It is told the girls in the area would sign up for a wedding time even before meeting a cadet so they could be married at the chapel that week since it was so difficult getting a time.   Now they do not allow them to sign up without having a cadet’s name.   Standing outside the chapel and looking over West Point you can see the cadet barracks and all the way to Victory Monument and the Hudson River.   This building and view are a must when you visit West Point   If you are really lucky as I was, you may get to hear the organist practice.  Such a beautiful sound. 

                 There is much more to see on West Point but this blog is getting long so I will stop here.   I know you will love it here and will enjoy the history and stories of the fabulous historic fort.   Go see, hear the stories and the history, talk with the cadets, and enjoy the beauty of this place.   Signing out for now.