OCTOBER 26, 2017 1 THE OCTOBER 26, 2017 VOL. 74, NO. 42 ® UTY ONOR OUNTRY OINTER IEW D , H , C PSERVING THE U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY AND THE COMMUNITY V OF WEST POINT ® Bush receives Thayer Award (Above) The 43rd President of the United States George W. Bush joins U.S. Military Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr., to review the USMA Corps of Cadets on the Plain, Oct. 19. Bush (right, including Caslen and Chairman of the West Point Association of Graduates’ retired Lt. Gen. Larry Jordan) is the 2017 recipient of the Sylvanus Thayer Award presented by the West Point AOG. The Thayer Award is given to a citizen of the United States, other than a West Point graduate, whose outstanding character, accomplishments and stature in the civilian community draw wholesome comparison to the qualities for which West Point strives, in keeping with its motto: “Duty, Honor, Country.” See Page 3 for story and photos. PHOTOS BY MICHELLE EBERHART/DPTMS VID 2 OCTOBER 26, 2017 NEWS & FEATURES POINTER VIEW U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand thanked the Corps of Cadets for their support of the 2017 Tunnel to Towers in New York City Sept. 24. Nearly 2,400 cadets, staff and faculty went to the city to run or hold flags during the event to honor NYC firefighter Stephen Siller who died on 9/11. PHOTOS BY MICHELLE EBERHART/ DPTMS VID Halloween reminders to keep safe, stay out of trouble By Directorate of Emergency Services This mischief gets out of control and to enjoy the Halloween festivities, the As an additional safety and security escalates to criminal behavior by egging people, Directorate of Emergency Services would like measure, Military Police will be in every It’s that time of year again! Halloween is a vehicles and breaking windows. to remind you of the following: neighborhood handing out glow necklaces to tradition that has been around for ages, but as The West Point community doesn’t have • Ensure your children adhere to the curfew children during trick-or-treat hours, which are much fun as it is, we’d like to keep residents many of these incidents. However, we do get policy; 5-8 p.m. Tuesday. informed of some of the trouble that comes with our share of missing/destroyed pumpkins and • Check all candy for tampering prior to If you would like to receive some glow it. The night before Halloween, Devil’s Night, a few missing yard decorations. consumption; necklaces ahead of time, stop by the Provost or more commonly known as Mischief Night, Most of the mischief can be deterred by • Travel in groups when trick-or-treating; Marshal’s Office at building 616 on Swift Road, is the night that teenagers like to find mischief. maintaining a presence around your home and • Use flashlights when travelling at night Fire Station One on Washington Road or any Most of the time it is innocent fun. However, ensuring children adhere to the installation for safety and visibility; installation gate. They will be available at 9 there are times when the mischief goes a little curfew times which can be found in post • Stay on the sidewalks and cross the street a.m. on Halloween Day. too far and strays into the juvenile crime area. policy memorandum #20 Curfew for Minor at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks; Remember, make safe decisions and please Some of the common mischief we have seen is: Children (https://www.westpoint.army.mil/ • Only knock on doors with porch lights on; report any suspicious activity. smashing pumpkins, egging houses or covering policyletters.html). • Drive extra safely on Halloween. Kids are Happy Halloween from everyone here at the an entire yard in toilet paper. In order for everyone here in the community excited and may move in unpredictable ways. Directorate of Emergency Services! 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. Robert L. Caslen, Jr. endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of the Army or the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Record. Superintendent Vacant The editorial content of the Pointer View is the responsibility of the U.S. Military Academy Public Everything advertised in this publication will be made available for purchase, use or patronage Lt. Col. 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[email protected] POINTER VIEW IN FOCUS: THAYER AWARD OCTOBER 26, 2017 3 Former President Bush presented the Thayer Award By Keith Hamel 11, 2001, during his remarks opening the award ceremony. Association of Graduates “In the aftermath of those horrific attacks, our president, George W. Bush, would rally us as a nation and lead us as we According to Class of 2021 Cadet Kelley Ericson, the Corps confronted a new kind of evil threat, one that attacked us not of Cadets were buzzing with excitement all week about the for our land or wealth, but because of our ideals and because arrival of former President George W. Bush, the 2017 recipient of our freedom,” Caslen said. of the Thayer Award, and when he entered Washington Hall In his speech accepting the Thayer Award, Bush also for the award dinner and ceremony Oct. 19, he received what returned to Sept. 11th, particularly to the graduation speech he Class of 2018 Cadet Jackson Luff called, “Some of the loudest gave to the West Point Bicentennial Class of 2002 nine months cheers I’ve ever heard in the mess hall.” after that fateful day. Presented annually by the West Point Association of Quoting that speech, Bush said, “Every West Point class Graduates since 1958, the Thayer Award recognizes a U.S. is commissioned in the armed forces, but some West Point citizen whose outstanding character, accomplishments and classes are also commissioned by history.” stature in the civilian community draw wholesome comparison In the years following that speech, Bush noted that to the qualities for which West Point strives, in keeping with thousands of graduates have taken up the cause to advance its motto: Duty, Honor, Country. freedom. In his remarks introducing the 2017 recipient, retired Lt. “They did their duty with honor for their country,” he said. Gen. Larry Jordan, USMA Class of 1968, chairman of the West But while the lessons of Sept. 11 are still an important part of Former President George W. Bush talks to the Corps Point Association of Graduates, noted the concept of the Thayer the West Point curriculum, Bush said that today’s cadets will of Cadets and special guests during the 2017 Thayer Award originated with the Class of 1931, which sought to create face new challenges. Award dinner, Oct. 19 in Washington Hall. an award that would contribute to the public’s understanding He outlined these challenges earlier in the day at the “Spirit PHOTOS BY MICHELLE EBERHART/DPTMS VID of West Point and the principles on which it is built. of Liberty” forum held at Lincoln Center in New York City, and the Academy’s fifth superintendent (1817-33) before In its 60-year history, the Thayer Award was given to but as he repeated them during his Thayer Award remarks he coming to West Point. scientists and astronauts, jurists and scholars, members of the related specific points to cadets. “Thayer founded the West Point Dialectical Society to clergy and members of Congress, and three former presidents For example, when he mentioned “living up to civic foster debate and good dialect,” Bush said, “which makes my of the United States, including Bush’s father, President George values,” Bush said, “I am counting on the cadets of West selection for this honor somewhat puzzling.” H.W. Bush, the 1994 recipient. Point to serve as examples of character and integrity for But every light-hearted moment was followed by another “The one thing shared by all Thayer Award recipients is your generation, and I’m confident that you will rise to the filled with sincerity. an intense love of country and an untiring effort to make our occasion.” In his speech’s conclusion, for example, he mentioned nation better and stronger,” Jordan said. “President George W. Later, when discussing the need for American institutions how people often come up to him and ask if he misses being Bush’s name on the Thayer Award plaque greatly enhances the “to step up and provide cultural and moral leadership for this the president.