As West Point conferences go, it was a great event at the United States Military Academy this past weekend. Graduates from many different walks of life attended; a 2002 grad, currently leading the Illinois Dept. of Veterans' Affairs, talked about how Army and Academy experience informed support for veterans. A cadet panel impressed the "Old Grads" with their tales of tough field training and international adventures -- one combat-arms-destined senior joked about being nicknamed "Ranger Roger" by other cadets.
In a panel about healing, a survivor of severe spinal cord injury from a parachute accident (not the only grad in the room with that experience) joined a cancer survivor to talk about their work helping others with more serious problems. A two-star general spoke movingly of 11 soldiers lost on deployment in Iraq, while another general nodded mutely; another senior officer talked about realizing that a third deployment had triggered PTSD symptoms.
The head of the Academy's Psychology curriculum talked about "resiliency training," preparing troops to survive the emotional challenges of battle. A Navy Captain talked about flying combat aircraft.
Most moving was the memorial. The reading of names of those lost: on the battlefield, to cancer, some tragically to suicide. The Chaplain -- yet another West Point grad -- reminding us of the business we're in, and how the reminder of death can keep us living life, every second, in support of our values and our personal missions. The playing of taps. And the sound of voices raised, many tear-filled, singing the verses of the Alma Mater.
In particular, that last -- the raised voices -- was stunning. Because all the voices were female.
This was the West Point Women's Summit, and each of those mentioned above (except Navy Captain Michelle Guidry) was a woman graduate (or cadet) of the Academy: Erica Borggren '02, Cadet Sara Roger '13, Nancy Hogan '95, Joan Grey '80, Lil Pfluke '80, MG Heidi Brown '81, BG (ret) Anne McDonald '80, COL Donna Brazil '83, Donna McAleer '87, Cynthia Lindenmeyer '90.