West Point
Duty, Honor, Country

"To educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country; professional growth throughout a career as an officer in the United States Army; and a lifetime of selfless service to the nation."- USMA Motto

The academy at West Point opened on March 16, 1802. The academy was established by President Thomas Jefferson who signed legislation in 1802. Colonel Sylvanus Thayer, known as the "Father of the Military Academy," was the superintendent of the academy from 1817-1833.  He made civil engineering the basis of the curriculum and for the first half of the century graduates of the academy were largely responsible for the building of the nation's railways, roads, bridges, and harbors.

© 2004 Pat Bellino