Ring Weekend: West Point Class of 2025

I hope it inspires you to become better leaders and better soldiers. These rings will serve as a tangible reminder of the long gray line that came before us. Our rings incorporate gold from 895 donor rings of graduates, including 88 rings specific to our class' ring melt, each carrying its own unique story, but all sharing one common factor, which is the living bond of the West Point shared experience. Looking to the future, these rings will be a constant reminder of our duty to lead with integrity, to serve with honor, and always uphold the values we have sworn to protect. Class of 2025, together we thrive. Really, it's a lot more than just the medal on the hand. This is the linkage that fastens us to every single class that comes before. And I want to live that legacy and be part of that gray line just as they were for me. The long gray line holds strong in our family. There's a long line of us who go through West Point and are just dedicated to a life of service. The fact that there's a piece of history in every single one of our class rings, it's very symbolic of the fact that we get to remember those that have come before us and those that have paved the way. A bit of shivers and chills came over my body just to know that my grandfather's ring is part of the gold that I wear on my finger every day, and his legacy and his inspirations behind me every day, and now I have a tangible reminder of him every day now that he's not here with us. And it represents a lot more than any other class ring. It's our bond through the hardship here at West Point, but also the culmination of our efforts over four years. Together we thrive, for sure. I definitely wouldn't have made it through this place without the help of other people. The ring, it's symbolic of, you know, as a West Point graduate, what we expect of our graduates as they go out and lead our Army and our nation as future leaders of character.