“I could not help but be flooded with emotions knowing that I will be leading these men and women who are willing to give their all to preserve what we value as the American way of life. To me, that is the greatest honor,” said Alix Idrache of his West Point graduation. (Photo: Staff Sgt. Vito T. Bryant/U.S. Army)
Newly minted Army 2nd Lt. Alix Idrache was part of the long gray line that graduated this month from the United States Military Academy and became overwhelmed with emotion.
Idrache was one of nearly 1,000 graduating West Point cadets this year, stretching back across 214-years of tradition.
Emigrating to the U.S. in 2009 from the slums of Haiti, Idrache signed up for Selective Service soon after becoming a citizen, taking his responsibilities seriously, and joined the Maryland Army National Guard.
His service in Maryland earned him a chance to vie for one of 85 direct appointments reserved at West Point from the National Guard and Army Reserves in each class and in the past four years at the school Idrache rose to regimental commander, graduating in the top 5 percent of his class and picking up the Brigadier General Gerald A. Counts Memorial Award for earning the highest rating in Physics.
With that on his shoulders, the grateful cadet turned officer became choked up during his final ceremony at the Point.
“I could not help but be flooded with emotions knowing that I will be leading these men and women who are willing to give their all to preserve what we value as the American way of life. To me, that is the greatest honor,” said Idrache.
Idrache is headed to the Army Aviation Center for Excellence at Fort Rucker, Alabama to learn to fly helicopters.
[ U.S Army and Soldiers Magazine ]
The post Graduating West Point cadet choked up at ‘greatest honor’ appeared first on Guns.com.