As is the tradition at a West Point graduation, the cadets toss their hats in the air. Young people run on to the field hoping to be lucky enough to get one of the hats. Usually, the cadet has put a dollar bill in the hat. A beautiful young lady cousin of graduating cadet, Lieutenant Gerard Connolly, got more than a $1 dollar bill — she received wisdom worth millions of dollars. What follows is a typed transcript of the letter. The letter is only signed ‘SS’ so I will respect the desired anonymity. Since I have the graduation roster I could narrow down who that might be, but decided to allow the message to do all the talking. Hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Thank you.To the receiver of this hat:
If I have one piece of advice for you it’s to “live above the common level of life.” As the cadet prayer says, never be content with a normal life, or an easy life. Success in life, friendship, love, and work often involves taking the hard, difficult route. It means choosing the harder right over the easier wrong. To be honorable, loyal, responsible, and to be endowed with justice and truth, to be courageous: These things require dedication and commitment. No matter what you do whether you serve as a soldier, a doctor, or a candle stick maker, be the best. Serve with all your heart, and always do what is morally right no matter what the pressure. To do what is right does not mean do what is easy. Most of the time, the right thing is the hardest. You are the future of this nation. As you grow older, do not be afraid to become the leader of your generation, do not be afraid to forge new paths, and make the tough decisions. Also, the Right path will be difficult, often treacherous. However, do not lose faith. God will provide what you will need. He will place friends along your route to help you and aid you and to guide you in your hardest trials. I leave you with the final stanza of Robert Frost’s A Not Taken:
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and…
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
SS
Peace, Andrea Goeglein, PhD
http://dontdiebooks.eventbrite.com
