Monday, 27 October 2008

Former Secretary of State and General (Retired) Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and his wife Patricia returned to West Point on Monday, 27 October 2008, for the formal dedication of the Haig Room on the sixth floor of the new Thomas Jefferson Hall Cadet Library and Learning Center. The room was named in recognition of General and Mrs. Haig’s generous gift of five million dollars to the Academy in support of academic programs.

The following was taken from Grey Matter by J. Phoenix, Esq.

During his introduction of GEN Haig, the Superintendent, LTG Buster Hagenbeck ’71, mentioned some meetings that GEN Haig had earlier with cadets. In reaction to some questioning looks, the Superintendent had to explain to the cadets that, when GEN Haig referred to discussions with “Henry, Jerry and Ron,” he meant former Secretary of State Kissinger and Presidents Ford and Reagan.

At his presentation at the dedication of the Haig Room, GEN Haig joked about not standing at the top of his class or being able to do everything “perfect” like MacArthur, but he became serious when he spoke of the primary responsibility of military leaders being to the American people. This responsibility required them to speak out when they did not agree with policies, and he admitted that he had been required to do so on three significant occasions.

The dedication, which opened with a prayer from Reverend Joseph Easterbrook, representing the Archdiocese of the Military Services, ended with a prayer by GEN Haig’s brother Frank, a Jesuit priest.

Following the dedication and before lunch in the cadet mess, GEN and Mrs. Haig and other members of their party stood on the steps of Washington Hall to observe the Monday Lunch Review. In a practice inaugurated last year, the entire Corps of Cadets marches out of the sallyports onto the Plain, proceeds to the reviewing stand and then returns in two columns to enter the mess hall. Because this is the week leading up to the Air Force game, the cadets marched in Army Combat Uniform. Beat Air Force!