West Point - Last Saturday, Vice President Joe Biden praised the 972 cadets who comprised the U.S. Military Academy’s Class of 2012.
“This is your destiny to lead your country,” he said, “for you are the leaders of your generation, that 9/11 generation, that I predict will go down in history as the finest generation this country has ever produced.”
The cadets received their diplomas and were commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the United States Army.
During the Vice President’s speech, he highlighted President Obama’s foreign policy achievements. That included the military taking out most of al-Qaida’s senior leadership, including al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in 2011.
“Those warriors sent a message to the world that if you harm America, we will follow you to the end of the Earth,” he said.
Biden also acknowledged the high cost that came with these wars, which included 87 members from the “West Point family.”
The 2012 commencement marks the 214th graduating class and the 33rd class to graduate women.
The 972 graduating cadets include 139 women, 47 African-Americans, 59 Asian/Pacific Islanders, 77 Hispanics and three Native Americans.
The Class of 2012 has 75 cadets who are sons or daughters of West Point graduates. Six of these cadets have parents who are both graduates.
Biden joins a long list of prominent West Point graduation speakers including President Obama, former President George W. Bush and former Vice President Dick Cheney.
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