It’s Labor Day weekend and it feels like 80% of the Corps is gone. The only people still here are the ones who live on the other side of the country. So here I find myself, alone for the first time in 10 weeks. So far, I’ve spent the weekend sleeping, watching movies, and piecing at homework. Here’s the view out my window. Super cool stone buildings in every direction.
I know a lot of people are curious about how church works, so here it is: Every Sunday at 12:30 all the cadets pile into Firstie’s(Senior’s) cars and drive to the Chapel about two miles off post in Highland Falls for the YSA Branch meeting. The Chapel was just dedicated this spring by Elder Holland. Before that, the Family Ward and YSA Branch met together in one of the lecture halls in Thayer Hall-the main academic building. The Branch Presidency is made up of different members of the faculty from the Academy. There are a few young ladies from the area that attend, but about 30 cadets make up the majority of the Branch. On Tuesday evenings an institute teacher from the New York area drives up, and we have a lesson in one of the classrooms in Thayer Hall under the banner of the LDSSA (Latter-day Saint Student Association). There is also a senior mission couple and a set of missionaries from the Morristown, New Jersey Mission assigned to West Point and a few surrounding towns.
The mixing of West Point and church feels like a total collision of worlds. One of the Firsties, Hunter Holt, holds one of the 10 highest positions cadets can hold at the Academy, and then at church he’s the executive secretary for the Branch and president of the LDSSA. For most Plebes(Freshman), there aren’t very many times when all formalities go out the window, but because of church, I get close associations with higher ranking cadets on a regular basis.
Years ago I nannied in Short Hills, it’s in the Morristown Stake, and a high school friend of mine is the Stake president there now, Pres Ure. Love hearing all your adventures! Thanks for sharing!