Dear West Point Cadets, You Deserved Better

Dear West Point Class of 2025,

You deserved better.

You deserved a ceremony that was about you. About your sacrifice, your discipline, your grit, and your unwavering commitment to country and service. Instead, you were handed a lecture on “trophy wives,” a crass punchline from a man who seems to believe leadership is about branding yourself louder than the people you claim to serve. Your graduation was hijacked—transformed into a vanity hour for a man who couldn’t name the Army values without a teleprompter and a prompt from his lawyer.

When the Commander-in-Chief is more concerned with applause lines than honoring the long gray line, we have a problem. Your moment of pride became a campaign stunt. Your accomplishments were overshadowed by smirks, self-praise, and stories that had nothing to do with duty, honor, or country. But make no mistake—you were the reason we tuned in. You were the hope beneath the pomp. And you deserved a leader who could look you in the eye and speak with reverence, not punchlines.

So let it be said now, with all the respect that moment should have carried:

Congratulations, graduates. You are the beating heart of this country’s future. You chose service over self, and in doing so, you became part of a lineage that stretches through the most sacred moments in our history. Your discipline, intelligence, and integrity are a light in uncertain times. We see you. We honor you.

May you march forward not just in uniform, but in courage and clarity. May you lead not with arrogance, but with purpose and humility. The ceremony may have failed you—but your country will not forget the greatness you represent. Thank you for standing tall when others shrink from the call. You make us proud.

Julie Bolejack, MBA