My wife and I attended “I” (for Induction) Day ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy last night. We witnessed 1,139 of our best and brightest young people take the oath to defend the Constitution of the United States “against all enemies foreign and domestic.” We have seen plenty of evidence in recent days of just who those domestic enemies of the Constitution might be.
I was heartened to see those vital young people repeat the time-honored words: So help me God.
This was, of course, followed by the Academy’s song, Navy Blue & Gold and its most important military mission: BEAT ARMY!
For my wife, a retired commanding officer in the Navy, it is always a meaningful experience. She looks over the fresh-faced youth who are spending their first day in the Navy. “How young they look,” she remarks.
I survey the families of the incoming Midshipmen and reply: “How young their parents look!”
God bless and keep them all. And I thank them for their service.