During Founder's Day each spring, West Pont graduates gather at a dress mess dinner to honor the tradition of military service and the commitment to the values of West Point's motto: "Duty, Honor, and Country."
The West Point Society of Philadelphia furthers these principles with the presentation each year of the General Alexander M. Haig Jr., "Guardian of Liberty" Award to honor an individual for a lifetime of service to the values of duty, honor, and country.
Lt. Gen. Nadja West, Surgeon General of the Army and Commanding General of US Army Medical Command, is the 2018 Guardian of Liberty Award recipient, and the award was presented on Mar. 10 at the Union League in Philadelphia.
West said she was humbled and honored to receive the award and to represent the American heroes who have been guided by the values of West Point.
West is a 1982 graduate of the Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering. She earned a Doctorate of Medicine Degree from George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC.
"To be considered in the company of leaders that I've tried to emulate my entire career like Gen. Sullivan, Gen. Rodriguez, and Gen Shinseki and also to share this honor with Cardinal Edwin O'Brien" [former recipients], West said. "I am humbled and blessed to be considered in the same category as these fine gentleman."
She also paid tribute to Gen. Alexander Haig for whom the award is named.
Before the dinner and award ceremony, West greeted guests in a receiving line. During the dinner, she delivered the keynote address, telling some personal stories and discussing her goals and values as The Surgeon General and Commander of the Medical Command.
West, who is nearing 40 years of service explained why she stayed so long: "I don't know who said it first that soldering is an affair of heart … but I know exactly what they mean. The ability to take care of soldiers, to get to know them, to influence them, grabbed hold of me early on and continues to be the reason I still serve today, and why there is nothing else on the face of this planet I'd rather do than take care of soldiers and their families."
"This is what West Point does," said West. "It transforms our young people during their journey as cadets. It doesn't just teach leadership, it molds the tenants of leadership into the very soul of our cadets who graduate to serve with excellence while in uniform. And when their days of service are complete, they exchange the uniform and continue to serve in civilian attire all around our nation and all around the world.
"That is the real strength of our Army. It is not derived from a weapons system or a fighting vehicle or an aircraft. It is derived from our people and most importantly our leaders."
This year marks the 216th anniversary of the founding of the Military Academy in 1802.
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