WPAOG held its West Point Survivor Community Weekend over the Fourth of July holiday at West Point and nearby Windrose on Hudson. The four-day event included interactive sessions presented by our grief experts and partners, TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Programs for Survivors), with a focus on communication and grief support. Attendees also took tours of Constitution Island and the Kimsey Center, and participated in other activities such as yoga and golf, culminating with the West Point Band’s Independence Day concert.
The opportunity to be back in familiar places was a highlight for many. Christine Peterson-Krieger, daughter of Matthew J. Peterson ’72, reminisced about her wedding day with her father at Herbert Hall during her visit.
“It’s just like the small moments, because when we went to Herbert Hall, I was the second wedding to have a reception there and so I walked in and I just remembered dancing with my dad,” she said. “It was nice to see and be in there, so it’s those little moments, you know?”
The WPAOG West Point Survivor Community is rooted in the belief that even when a graduate or their loved one has passed, their family remains part of the unbreakable bond of the Long Gray Line. Surviving spouses, parents, children, and family members remain part of the West Point family, and WPAOG is committed to supporting them through the moments that matter most.
“Even though West Point isn’t the easiest place to get to, it feels more like he’s with me there than any other place, it is part of my husband and I value the time I get to spend there,” said Cheryl Fencl, surviving spouse of Thomas J. Fencl ’80, “the people I talked with about it felt the same way…they feel like they are part of West Point too.”
This gathering is an important opportunity for connection, support, and community for survivors in the West Point family. It reflects a unique dual bond: a shared connection to West Point and a shared understanding of walking the path of loss. In the Survivor Community, members grip hands and stand together as part of the West Point family coming together for fellowship, reflection, and recreation.
To join the Survivor Community Outreach click here.
