If it’s Graduation at West Point, summer can’t be far behind. However, with the early drizzle and the later breeze, the weather at the Graduation for the Class of 2025 was more fall than summer, with temps in the mid-50s. Still, nothing could dampen the spirits of the 1,002 graduates who endured the 47-month West Point experience and exited Michie Stadium as second lieutenants.
“Today, your cadet experience at West Point comes to an end, but this day really marks a milestone in your journey as a leader of character,” LTG Steven W. Gilland ’90, the 61st Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy, told the members of the “Together We Thrive” class. He then encouraged them to take the time between graduation and their first assignment to reflect—to reflect on their time at West Point but also to reflect on their upcoming responsibilities as U.S. Army officers, particularly to the citizens of this nation and to their soldiers.
The 2025 Graduation speaker was Donald J. Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States. Trump began his nearly 60-minute speech by thanking several people, particularly those in the stands who served in uniform (the Class of 2025 has 305 cadets with at least one parent who served in the Armed Services). “We salute your service,” Trump said. He then addressed the graduating cadets, reminding them of the “hallowed path walked by the titans and legends of U.S. military lore,” providing a list of famous West Point graduates as an example of these legends, and saying: “Today you officially join those immortal heroes in the proud ranks of the Long Gray Line. You know that term; so beautiful…Long-Gray-Line.”
He then singled out some of the legends of the Class of 2025, such as CDT Christopher Verdugo, who set an international record for the Norwegian Foot March; CDTs Megan Cooper and Clara Sabo, who became the first women from West Point to pass the Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course; and CDT Bryson Daily, the Army West Point Football quarterback who finished sixth in 2024 Heisman Trophy balloting and set a FBS record for the most rushing touchdowns from a quarterback in a season. Indeed, the Class of 2025 has a lot of members who made their mark: four Rhodes Scholars, 513 graduates of Air Assault School, 70 who completed Airborne School, and 41 Honor Graduates (reflecting overall excellence in cadet performance—Academic, Military, and Physical).
Trump concluded his speech by offering six pieces of advice (each punctuated with a story): 1) Do What You Love and Keep Working; 2) Think Big; 3) Work Hard (because “the harder you work, the luckier you get”); 4) Don’t Lose Your Momentum; 5) Have the Courage to Take Risks and Do Things Differently; and 6) Hold On to Your Culture and Traditions. Regarding this last lesson, Trump referred to the West Point Association of Graduates’ Class Ring Memorial Program. “It’s a great tradition,” he said.
Trump summed up his lessons and his message to the Class of 2025 by saying, “I know that you will never stop, you will never quit, you will never yield, you will never tire, you will never surrender, never give up…you can never give up…through every challenge, every battle, you’ll stand strong, you’ll work hard, you’ll stay tough and fight, fight, fight and win, win, win.”
After receiving his or her diploma, each member of the Class of 2025 exited the stage and received an engraved set of second lieutenant bars from a representative from the Class of 1975, the 50-Year Affiliation Class (HON Robert Hayes Jr. ’75, Dr. William Crain ’75, LTG (R) Mark Hertling ’75 or Timothy Sugrue ’75). Upon throwing their white hats in the air on the command of “Class dismissed!” members of the Class of 2025 held bar-pinning ceremonies all across post and cemented their place in the Long Gray Line. “So beautiful,” indeed.
Watch a recap and see more photos:
