West Point graduation is always a proud moment for cadets who endured years of 5:30 a.m. wakeup calls, exhausting PT and intense studying. But no picture has ever captured the emotions of that day quite like the photo above, which has gone viral all over the Internet this week.
Alix Idrache graduated from West Point this week and could not believe it when he woke up the next day and saw himself all over social media.
“I woke up this morning and found my face all over Facebook and with it myriad of amazing comments about my accomplishments,” he wrote on Facebook. “I am humbled and shocked at the same time. Thank you for giving me a shot at the American Dream and may God bless America, the greatest country on earth.”
Idrache then went over to Instagram and shared more about the emotional moment captured on camera:
I want to thank everyone for your kind and thoughtful comments on this picture. SSG Bryant captured a moment that I will never forget. At this moment, I was overwhelmed with emotions.
Three things came to mind and led to those tears. The first is where I started. I am from Haiti and never did I imagine that such honor would be one day bestowed on me.
The second is where I am. Men and women who have preserved the very essence of the human condition stood in that position and took the same oath. Men who preserved the Union in a dark period of this country’s history. Men who scaled the face of adversity and liberated Europe from fascism and nazism. Women like CPT Griest, LT Haver, MAJ Jaster who rewrote the narrative and challenged the status quo to prove themselves worthy of being called Rangers.
The third is my future. Shortly after leave, I will report to FT. Rucker to start flight school. Knowing that one day I will be a pilot is humbling beyond words. 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. Once again, thank you.
Ft. Rucker is located in the Wiregrass area of south Alabama and is home to the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence (USAACE) and the United States Army Aviation Museum. All Army aviation training since 1973 has taken place at Ft. Rucker, and many U.S. Air Force and allied forces helicopter pilots are trained there as well.
Independent Journal asked Lt. Idrache what inspired him to serve in the U.S. Army. Here’s what he said:
After signing up for selective service, I started receiving pamphlets from the Navy and Army National Guard. There was the promise of free college, which was very intriguing.
More importantly, there was the image of the American soldier that I’ve always had and I was excited to become one. There was often US military presence when I was growing up and I was always infatuated by the soldiers.
After enlisting, it became more than a path to a college education but an opportunity to fight for a powerful idea. I may be naive or idealistic, but I find this a very noble calling.
When I was growing up, Haiti had to be demilitarized because the army was committing atrocities and it was corrupt. I’m not saying this army is perfect and it has certainly endured some tough times with integration and the post Vietnam era.
However, knowing that there are millions of men and women who are willing to give their most precious gift because they swear to protect and defend an idea, is very appealing to me.
Congratulations, Lt. Idrache. We look forward to having you here in the Yellowhammer State!
(h/t INJO)
