THEY WEAR WEST POINT JACKETS AND THEY CALL IT HOLY NAME
THEY WEAR WEST POINT JACKETS AND THEY CALL IT HOLY NAME
Friday, June 12, 2009, 11:15:49 AM | Alexander J. Callahan, Jr.
“THEY WEAR WEST POINT JACKETS” and “They call it HOLY NAME”
The uniform the cadets wear is a maroon West Point Jacket, white trousers, and an ostrich plumed cover. It is symbolic of the uniform worn by the cadets of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. West Point is the oldest active Fort of the United States hailing back to the days of the revolution. Those were the days of fife and drums. The birth of the United States Military Academy, the beginning of “the Long Gray Line”, formed as the lineage of all graduates, instilled the ideals of duty, honor, and country. The words are somber and solemn enough but do not really convey the energy and or passion of what it means to embody that collection of beliefs, values, and pursuit of excellence that exemplifies the nicest sense of what a member of the long gray line embodies.
The ideas of teamwork, attention to detail, personal grooming, precision marching, pride in doing a job well done, innovation, vision, determination, not to mention overcoming obstacles in the face of seemingly great adversity are all contained in the ideal of a cadet. All this done not with a sense of personal aggrandizement but to be a part of something bigger than themselves. To do it for the good of the corps, and in a very real sense it is for the good of the country. This I believe is what the early organizers of the early organizations that grew in to the cadets envisioned. They then chose the WEST POINT uniform as its symbol.
From the early roots of fife and drum corps, to the early roots of military discipline and fanfare, to the evolution of Drum and Bugle Corps, first nurtured by the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Corps emerged as vibrant, powerful organizations of bright youth to exemplify the Spirit of those West Point roots as well as the spiritual values of Holy Name Church. It is the Holy Name that talks of our Christian Values. It is the name HOLY NAME CADETS and the WEST POINT JAKETS that remind us of that honorable heritage.
The Long Maroon Line -----THE HOLY NAME CADETS------THE CADETS -------- continue to show the right to wear the uniform that is an icon for those ideals.
I have read in a book “The Long Gray Line” a part of the prologue talks about The Hellcats drum and bugle corps (The West Point Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps) playing “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” to honor those returning from battles some who were not still living but very much a part of The Long Gray Line.
I look forward to the 75th celebration and to hear “American Salute” to remind me of those cadets, The Hellcats who paid tribute to the long gray line and to recognize that it is the long maroon line of which I am a part that is paying tribute to all those, living, passed or yet to be born, who have participated and will participate in the education and affirmation of those values and energies or passions that have so greatly been displayed by the HOLY NAME CADETS.
I see it as our obligation rather than and as well as privilege to financially support the current and future growth and evolution of THE LONG MAROON LINE. However you give, Give.
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Friday, June 12, 2009, 11:15:49 AM | Alexander J. Callahan, Jr.
“THEY WEAR WEST POINT JACKETS” and “They call it HOLY NAME”
The uniform the cadets wear is a maroon West Point Jacket, white trousers, and an ostrich plumed cover. It is symbolic of the uniform worn by the cadets of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. West Point is the oldest active Fort of the United States hailing back to the days of the revolution. Those were the days of fife and drums. The birth of the United States Military Academy, the beginning of “the Long Gray Line”, formed as the lineage of all graduates, instilled the ideals of duty, honor, and country. The words are somber and solemn enough but do not really convey the energy and or passion of what it means to embody that collection of beliefs, values, and pursuit of excellence that exemplifies the nicest sense of what a member of the long gray line embodies.
The ideas of teamwork, attention to detail, personal grooming, precision marching, pride in doing a job well done, innovation, vision, determination, not to mention overcoming obstacles in the face of seemingly great adversity are all contained in the ideal of a cadet. All this done not with a sense of personal aggrandizement but to be a part of something bigger than themselves. To do it for the good of the corps, and in a very real sense it is for the good of the country. This I believe is what the early organizers of the early organizations that grew in to the cadets envisioned. They then chose the WEST POINT uniform as its symbol.
From the early roots of fife and drum corps, to the early roots of military discipline and fanfare, to the evolution of Drum and Bugle Corps, first nurtured by the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Corps emerged as vibrant, powerful organizations of bright youth to exemplify the Spirit of those West Point roots as well as the spiritual values of Holy Name Church. It is the Holy Name that talks of our Christian Values. It is the name HOLY NAME CADETS and the WEST POINT JAKETS that remind us of that honorable heritage.
The Long Maroon Line -----THE HOLY NAME CADETS------THE CADETS -------- continue to show the right to wear the uniform that is an icon for those ideals.
I have read in a book “The Long Gray Line” a part of the prologue talks about The Hellcats drum and bugle corps (The West Point Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps) playing “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” to honor those returning from battles some who were not still living but very much a part of The Long Gray Line.
I look forward to the 75th celebration and to hear “American Salute” to remind me of those cadets, The Hellcats who paid tribute to the long gray line and to recognize that it is the long maroon line of which I am a part that is paying tribute to all those, living, passed or yet to be born, who have participated and will participate in the education and affirmation of those values and energies or passions that have so greatly been displayed by the HOLY NAME CADETS.
I see it as our obligation rather than and as well as privilege to financially support the current and future growth and evolution of THE LONG MAROON LINE. However you give, Give.
Show all items
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