DECEMBER 19, 2019 1 WWW.WESTPOINT.EDU THE DECEMBER 19, 2019 VOL. 76, NO. 48 OINTER IEW® DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY PSERVING THE U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY AND THE COMMUNITY V OF WEST POINT ® Emotion and refl ection— The West Point Alma Mater It’s been a grueling season both mentally and physically for senior quarterback Kelvin Hopkins Jr. after not regaining full health to get back to being the starting quarterback after a successful season a year ago. (Above) After the Army-Navy Game, Hopkins’ last as an Army West Point football player, his emotions come to the forefront as he cries singing the West Point Alma Mater for the last time on the college gridiron. See Page 3 for story and photo of cadets and graduates refl ecting on the Alma Mater. Photo by Brandon O’Connor/PV 2 DECEMBER 19, 2019 NEWS & FEATURES POINTER VIEW The Youngest at the West Point Cemetery By Amanda Miller “The West Point Cemetery tells the story of America, not only during wartime but in peacetime as well.”—Lt. Col. David Siry, Department of History professor and director of the Center for Oral History at West Point. I gained and lost a child on Nov. 22, 2009. My baby must be the youngest person buried at West Point Cemetery, the only cemetery of veterans from every American war. Our little one was granted burial as the child of a USMA graduate who lived there as a teacher at the time. Named Tyler, my middle name, and Kilian from St. Kilian, Patron of Wurzburg, Germany, where my husband Jake and I met as Soldiers stationed there. Tyler died in the womb for unknown reasons, his brief life a far cry from legends of the Long Gray Line that surround him, from the American Revolution to Iraq and Afghanistan. And yet, he is counted among them. It is truly an honor that this little child is in such good company. “The oldest grave belongs to Revolutionary War Ensign Dominick Trant, an 18-year-old Irishman from County Cork. His funeral procession in November 1782 included Gen. George Washington.”* Tyler Killian Miller’s younger (above and below) and older (below) siblings honor their brother at his gravesite at the Two hundred twenty-seven years later, West Point Cemetery where he is one of the youngest buried. Photos courtesy of Amanda Miller my Tyler was buried here and his great-great- at West Point Cemetery, taught Sunday school always sang this to our children, and she died the cemetery and sing it herself. It was perfect. grandmother Mary Hogan was from County to cadets, one of them Dwight D. Eisenhower. just before Tyler. I couldn’t find a recording “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells Cork. In 1859, Anna wrote the hymn “Jesus Loves sung by cadets, but the Cadet Chapel organist me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are Sisters Anna and Susan Warner, also buried Me.” Jake’s grandmother Lorraine Miller Meredith Baker said she wanted to come over to weak, but He is strong.” Honoring the unborn has long been tradition in America. Arabella Kennedy, the stillborn daughter of John and Jacqueline, is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Established in 1866, The Church of The Holy Innocents in New York City is dedicated in memory of the children who have died unborn. Baby Tyler’s life made an everlasting impression on our family. His older and younger siblings learned from him. He showed us God’s perfect miniature human design made in His image, and that a person is a person no matter how small. West Point will forever be home to our family, made eternal by our tiny baby. May Tyler Kilian Miller influence generations to come. (Editor’s note: The asterisk marks a quote from this story—https://www.lohud. com/story/news/2017/05/26/west-point- cemetery/322349001/.) 40 Mulberry Street, Middletown, NY 10940 POINTER VIEW ® To subscribe to the Pointer View or The Army civilian enterprise newspaper, the Pointer View, is an authorized publication for members The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not if you have delivery problems, call 845-346-3213. of the Department of Defense. Contents of the Pointer View are not necessarily the official views of, or constitute endorsement of the products or services advertised by the U.S. Army or the Times Herald- Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams Brandon O’Connor endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of the Army or the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Record. 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The Times Herald-Record is If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher PV Managing Editor, 938-2015 michelle.schneider@westpoint. responsible for all commercial advertising. will refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation has been corrected. [email protected] edu POINT POINTER VIEW IN FOCUS: ARMY-NAVY ALMA MATER DECEMBER 19, 2019 3 (Left) Seniors quarterback Kelvin Hopkins Jr. and offensive linemen Jaxson Deaton and Alex Herndon yell “Go Army, Beat Navy,” after the Alma Mater following the Army-Navy Game Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. “Go Army, Beat Navy” is a customary saying for Army West Point athletes after singing the Alma Mater at any sporting event the Black Knights play where the Alma Mater is sung. Live, Serve, Die—The Alma Mater holds close to Long Gray Line, cadets hearts Story and photo by Brandon O’Connor time any current Army cadet had to sing first. join their ranks in the coming years are tied Point means, and it is a representation of the PV Assistant Editor As the final verse of the alma mater rang together by the Long Gray Line. The words of academy. It really just shows that West Point through the stadium, and despite the score, the the alma mater honor those graduates, the Corps is more than just another institution. We take Hail, Alma Mater dear // To us be ever players raised their helmets high and shouted of Cadets and the sacrifices they are willing to things to a different level here and it exemplifies near // Help us thy motto bear // Through all “Beat Navy” before turning and walking across make and the commitment they have made to what we go through and then what we do after the years. the field to join the Navy midshipmen as they Duty, Honor, Country by choosing to attend the academy.” sang Navy Blue and Gold, the academy’s alma West Point. For some that sacrifice will be ultimate, After the clock struck zero at the end of mater. “To me, the alma mater is about a community but each graduate will make at least some the 120th Army-Navy Game, players from It is a moment of solidarity between rivals of individuals that crosses generations, small sacrifice for their country as they serve both teams walked toward the Corps of Cadets who upon graduation will become compatriots backgrounds and geographies grounded in a the Army as officers and command Soldiers in seated in the stands and the West Point Band fighting side-by-side to protect the United States common purpose as expressed in our mission,” the crucible of ground combat. Sacrifice big or began to play. and its freedom with the same tenacity with Dean of the Academic Board Brig. Gen. Cindy small, by upholding the oath they have taken Throughout the four quarters of the game, which they once fought against each other on R. Jebb, USMA Class of 1982, said. “The beauty and living by the honor code of the academy, players from the U.S. Military Academy and the gridiron. of West Point is that we get to live, train and graduates may see the words of the alma mater the U.S. Naval Academy were the fiercest of “To be able to share that moment after learn together, thereby making us all stronger come true and live a life that was “well done.” rivals. Every inch was fought for on the field, competing with them and going as hard as as individuals and teams, and as an institution. but once the clock ran out, the competitors once you can, to just kind of look at each other and That strength in community continues along And when our work is done // Our course again become brothers in arms. have that sense of respect for their school, for the Long Gray Line, with the words of the alma on earth is run // May it be said, “Well done” Win or lose, first or second, after the Army- their life day to day is a sobering moment,” mater as our common foundation to be ‘ever // Be thou at peace. Navy Game you sing. Hopkins said.