The Remarks of Speaker Sheldon Silver

West Point Day

State Capitol, Assembly Chamber, Albany, NY
Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver presents Brigadier Gen. Patrick Finnegan, the Dean of the Academic Board at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, with an Assembly proclamation declaring Wednesday, April 9, 2007, "West Point Day in New York State." Each year, the Assembly pays tribute to the cadets from New York State and also honors the "Long Gray Line" of men and women who have graduated from the academy to serve our nation and defend freedom throughout the world.

We are privileged to have a number of guests from the United States Military Academy here in the Chamber. Please join me in welcoming ALL of our distinguished visitors:

• Brigadier General Patrick Finnegan, Dean of the West Point Academic Board, who is here once again representing Superintendent Franklin L. Hagenbeck;

• Colonel Bryan Hilferty; Colonel Dan Bruno;

• Major Ryan McCormack; Major Gregory Frey;

• Command Sergeant Major Martin Wells;

• Command Sergeant Major Violet McNeirney;

• Major Carlos Huerta;

• Sergeant Major [Retired] David Brzywczy;

• West Point's Chief of Community Relations, Ms. Deborah DeGraw;

• Brigade Commander Jason Crabtree;

• And our own West Point Cadets who hail from cities and towns across New York State.

Let us give our West Point contingent a warm Assembly welcome.

• On behalf of Majority Leader Ron Canestrari;

• Minority Leader Jim Tedisco;

• The Chairman of our Committee on Veterans Affairs, Assembly Member Adriano Espaillat;

• Assembly Member Nancy Calhoun, whose 96th Assembly District is home to West Point;

Speaking for all New Yorkers, we are grateful for all that West Point contributes - and has contributed - to our State and to our Nation.

We are especially grateful for all of the valiant leaders who were educated and trained at "The Point," whose bravery and discipline, patriotism and skill have guided this Nation through times of turmoil and danger.

To the Cadets who are joining us today, let me tell you what I have told your West Point brothers and sisters who have visited this Chamber over the years.

We - my colleagues and I - may not fully comprehend, as you do, the challenge of being a soldier in this age of global terrorism, but we recognize quite clearly that the liberty we Americans so often and so easily take for granted is not without its costs.

Understanding that we live in a world where millions of men, women and children still can only dream of freedom and peace, we hold with reverence the sacrifices and the achievements of our Armed Forces as well as your individual and collective commitments to duty, honor and country.

Cadets, today we will praise your patriotic spirit and applaud your dedication, but in our hearts, we are praying that you - and each and every West Point Cadet - will know more peace than peril as you honor your commitment to the Nation.

May G-d bless you and may G-d bless America.