WEST POINT BICENTENNIAL FOUNDERS DAY DINNER
16 March 2002
Armor Inn
Fort Knox, KY 40121
Founders Day dinner. Uniform is:
Army or Civilian formal. For
dinner we are having Roast Prime Rib, Chicken Florentine, Salmon Wellington,
and assorted beverages, 10 minutes remaining!”
Founders Day dinner. Uniform is:
Army or Civilian formal. For
dinner we are having Roast Prime Rib, Chicken Florentine, Salmon Wellington,
and assorted beverages, 2 minutes remaining!”
“Ladies and Gentlemen, as is
echoed from the Poop Deck each day in Washington Hall, “TAKE SEATS”
“Fellow Graduates, Friends of West Point,
Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of the commanding general, MG R. Steven
Whitcomb, and COL Parlier, our host for this evening, welcome to Fort Knox and
the Bicentennial celebration of the founding of our beloved United States
Military Academy, West Point, New York.
Tonight is really a birthday party.
The 200th Birthday of West Point. I’m MAJ Michael McGurk, Class of 1985, Company H-4, “Go Hogs!”,
your master of ceremonies. Tonight, all
across the world, celebrations like this are taking place to commemorate the
establishment of our hallowed home by an act of Congress on March 16, 1802, and
to remember 200 years of success by thousands of young men and women as professional military officers and leaders
in this great nation! The academy has
had it’s share of challenges, trials and tribulations, but has emerged into the
21st century stronger than ever.
As they have for over 200 years, West Point graduates are leading our
nation towards the future. Both at home
and overseas, West Pointers are at the forefront. From the Congress of the United States, to the platoons of the
101stand 10th Mountain, USMA graduates are living the
life of Duty, Honor, Country.
I would first like to introduce the head
table starting with our host, Col Greg Parlier, Director , PAE, USAREC, Class
of ’74, .)LTC(ret) David Gray, our
oldest graduate speaker, next to him, Judy Parlier, wife of COL Parlier, to her right COL Francois Le Jariel, our
senior allied officer present, EMIA class of 1976, to his right, Lois Gary
(wife of LTC Gray) and Superintendent
of Schools for Hardin County, to her
right, 2LT Musgrave, youngest graduate, Class of ’01, our youngest graduate,
next to the LT, is Robbie Draeger, USMA future class of 2012, followed by his
father LTC Draeger, the Provost Marshal, next to LTC Draeger, Anne Le Jariel, wife of Francois, and my
wife Angie. Let’s give guests a warm
welcome.
Ladies and Gentlemen: please stand for the
posting of the colors
Please remain standing as I recite the Cadet Prayer for our invocation and remain standing for our traditional toasts. Please charge your wine glasses.
·
To
the President COL
Parlier
·
To
the Army LTC
Busch
I propose a toast to the United States Army. To the Army.
·
To
the USMA MAJ
Oclander
I propose a toast to the United States Military Academy. To the Corps
Gentlemen, please seat your ladies
·
To
the ladies. LTC
Roberts
I propose a toast to the ladies. To the ladies.
History of the empty plate
As you entered the regimental room this evening you might have noticed a small table here, in a place of honor. It is set for one. Please let me explain.
The military life is filled with symbolism. This table is our way of symbolizing the
fact that members of our profession of arms are missing from our midst. They are our fallen comrades. We call them our "brothers in arms." They are unable to be with us this evening
and so we remember them because of their dedication to our country.
The
table before you is set for one to symbolize the frailty of one soldier alone
against his or her enemies.
The
tablecloth is white-symbolizing the purity of their intentions to respond to
their country's call to arms.
The
single yellow rose-symbolizing remembrance-displayed in a vase, reminds is of
the families and loved ones of our comrades-in-arms who keep their memories
alive, lest we forget.
The red ribbon tied so prominently on the vase is a reminder of the blood shed to protect the liberty so loved by our country.
A
slice of lemon is on the bread plate to remind us of their bitter fate.
There
is salt upon the bread plate-symbolic of the families' tears
The
glass inverted, because they cannot toast with us this night
The
chair- the chair is empty- they are not here.
Remember
all of you who served with them and called them comrades. Who depended upon their might and relied
upon them to keep you safe, for surely, they have not forsaken you.
Ladies
and gentlemen, please rise and join me in a final toast:
I propose a toast to our fallen
comrades. Be thou at peace.
1910 hrs: Dinner
1930
hrs: Live Webcast
Master of Ceremonies (Dean) - Intro of head table
Master of Ceremonies - Recognize Youngest Grad
Master of Ceremonies - Recognize Oldest Grad
1935
hrs: Live Webcast Remarks by: Tom Dyer, AOG Chairman
1940
hrs: Live Webcast Remarks by: LTG Lennox, Superintendent
1945
hrs: Live Webcast Guest Speaker, BG (Ret.) Peter Dawkins, USMA ‘59
2015
hrs (est.): Live Webcast Master of ceremonies (Dean)- closing remarks
2020
hrs (est.): Live Webcast Clergy - closing prayer
2025 hrs (est.): Live Webcast Alma mater sung by Glee Club
2030-2045
Break
2045 Oldest Graduate Remarks LTC(Ret) Gray
Presentation
2100 Youngest
Graduate Remarks 2LT Musgrave
Presentation
2105
Retire
the Colors
2110 Dancing
till Midnight