“DUTY – HONOR – COUNTRY”*
“…The Long Gray Line has never failed us. Were you to do so, a million
ghosts in olive drab, in brown khaki, in blue and gray, would rise from their
white crosses thundering those magic words, „Duty, Honor, Country!‟...”
General Douglas MacArthur, Farewell Address to the Corps of Cadets, May 12, 1962
*Limited edition print by artist Paul Steucke available from Vladimir Arts, www.vladimirarts.com, 800-678-8523
Introducing “Leaders for Our Nation”
The above quote from MacArthur’s farewell address to the Corps of Cadets provided the
inspiration for a new song, Leaders for Our Nation, that was introduced at the West Point
Society of DC Founder’s Day Dinner in March of 2005 by a small group of former Cadet
Glee Club and Chapel Choir singers who had been recruited in advance to sing the
traditional Alma Mater. The program also included The Corps and the The U.S. Air
Force Song in honor of the recipient of the WPSDC’s Castle Award.
Because of the very favorable comments about Leaders for Our Nation from the alumni
that evening, and with the encouragement of the singers and other graduates, I would
like to introduce this song to the USMA graduate community at large. With that in mind,
this web site includes an audio track of the song recorded by the Fairfax Jubil-Aires
(several grads are members), along with a number of singers from the Old Dominion
Chorale, who volunteered to participate in this project. Tom Meier, who directs both
groups, did the a cappella arrangement. An audio excerpt from MacArthur’s address is
included as a lead-in to the song, courtesy of the MacArthur Memorial Foundation.
Sheet music is also available for downloading, including TTBB and SATB arrangements.
Permission to distribute copies of the audio track and the sheet music for this song
within the USMA community is granted, with proper attribution.
Alan Salisbury, ‘58
AlanBS58@aol.com