On the western bank of the Hudson River, 40 miles north of New York City, stands the United States Military Academy at West Point. For over 200 years, this well-known institution has emphasized the values behind a simple and inspiring motto: “Duty, Honor, Country.”
Implicit in this motto is the belief that serving others is not a matter of preference or convenience but of solemn duty; that such service must be given honorably, with integrity, or not at all; and that the needs of our fellow citizens, those with whom we share our country, are as important as our own.
Ken Alford is a retired colonel and was a faculty member at West Point for many years.
Sound bite—Ken Alford, retired Army colonel, former professor at West Point
For me, West Point is a fascinating mix of the past and the future. The walls practically echo with the names of men and women who have defended freedom for generations. At the same time, within those walls, young men and women are being prepared to give similar service in the years to come as people of character, who want to serve others and who are dedicated to something greater than themselves.
To some, these might seem like old-fashioned values. But the truth is they are timeless—and timely. Today, more than ever, we need people who consider it their duty to uphold freedom, who place a high priority on honor, and who do their part to make their country and the world a better place.
Sound bite—Ken Alford:
Throughout my life—at home and abroad—I have witnessed firsthand the positive power of duty, honor, and country. I’ve also witnessed their opposites, but I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that people who embrace duty, honor, and country truly have power to make the world a better place.
It’s not enough to assume that someone else will embrace these values for us. The duty of service is our shared duty. Whatever our work may be, we can do it with honor. And love for our country can inspire us to improve our country. You don’t have to attend West Point to live by duty, honor, and country. These values belong to all of us who selflessly enlist in a cause greater than ourselves.
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November 13, 2022
Broadcast Number 4,861
The Tabernacle Choir
Orchestra at Temple Square
Featuring: West Point Glee Club
Conductor
Mack Wilberg
Organist
Richard Elliott
Host
Lloyd Newell
America the Beautiful
Samuel A. Ward; Arr. Mack Wilberg
Because of the Brave
Lowell Alexander and Steve Amerson; Arr. Bob Krogstad
Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean
Thomas A’Becket and David Shaw; Arr. Richard Elliott
The Mansions of the Lord, from We Were Soldiers
Nick Glennie-Smith; Noah D. Taylor
God Is Nigh
General Daniel Butterfield; Arr. Nicholas McKaig
Battle Hymn of the Republic
William Steffe; Arr. Peter J. Wilhousky