May 12, 2008

Fellow Graduates,

Thanks for all your input on the Alma Mater and the Corps. Contrary to some notes I have read, I have not made my decision, nor will I until after graduation. Furthermore, it was never my intention to put this decision up for a “vote.” Commanders don’t ask for votes. But Commanders do get staff and even subordinate input, and the WPAOG has helped me with that with an informal, unscientific survey.

I am considering this not because of any outside pressure, nor out of a desire to be politically correct, but because it appears to be the right thing to do. Let me assure you that there is neither a push inside the Corps to make these changes, nor is there any pressure on me from above. As has been noted, this inequity first came to me when singing the Alma Mater at the funerals of female graduates killed in action. I believe it may be time, and it is apparent that many, not all andprobably not a majority, of you agree.

Symbols and words are important and I need to make sure every cadet is welcomed here wholeheartedly. Over 600 of our current cadets, and 3000 of our total graduates are women, but two of our most important symbols contain words that explicitly exclude them. As leaders of character, do we expect cadets or graduates to condone exclusion of women? If not, why are we teaching songs that do.

Furthermore, I don’t undertake this lightly. No place in America embraces tradition more than West Point, and these songs have been part of our tradition for almost half of our history—these songs didn’t exist prior to 1911. But changing 1 word in the Alma Mater would not destroy our traditions. These songs of the early 20th century simply reflected the times. They were not designed to exclude women. The simple truth was that women were not part of the Corps or alumni when the songs were written. I am addressing this inadvertent exclusion issue.

Finally, the Cadet Prayer may help me make this decision: “Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when the whole truth can be
won.” I believe that singing “sons of today” is a half truth.


F. L. Hagenbeck
Lieutenant General, US Army
Superintendent

 

 

The Changes

 

The Alma Mater

FROM:  Guide us, thy sons aright"

TO:  "Guide us thine own aright"

 

The Corps

FROM: "The men of the Corps long dead"

TO:  "The ranks of the Corps long dead"

FROM:  "We sons of today, we salute you"

TO:  "The Corps of today, we salute you"

FROM:  "You sons of an earlier day"

TO:  The Corps of an earlier day"

FROM:  "And the last man feels to his marrow"

TO:  "And the last one feels to the marrow"