Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-06-11
THE centennial
Elaborate Exercises at
West Point.
President Roosevelt Delivered
an Address.
Graduates Who Served in the Con-
tederate Army Present.
MEDAL WAS PRESENTED.


service, soldiers still in their prime and
at the head of Uncle Sans army. and
young soldiers who have yet to win
their spurs, gathered here today and
helped to make the centennial celebra-
tion of the United States Military acad-
emy the greatest of all days in the an
nails OF the institution. The occasion
was inspired also bby the presence of
the president of the nation, his cabinet
members, high officials of the army
and navy, senators and representa-
tives, foreign diplomats and scores of
other persons prominent in official life.
One of the most pleasing features of
the reunion was the presence of Gen.
eral Simon b. Buckner and one or two
others of the handful of surviving
southern generals whose military
training was obtained at West Point.
Next to the president of the United
States these distinguished guests re-
ceived more attention than did any of
the other visitors.
The ceremonies of the day really be-
gan with the arrival of the president
and his party shortly before 10 o'clock.
though the formal exercises did not
tame pldtC uutli dltCluOO SOlOuCl
Albert l.. Mills and has staff were pres
ent at the station to welcome the head
of the nation. With Colonel Mills, in
full dress uniform. were Captain Will
liam G. Rivers, Eleventh cavalry, ad.
jutant to the post Major Charles b.
Hall, Second infantry, treasurer of the
academy; Major John B. Bellingerm.
quartermaster United States army,
quartermaster of the military acad-
envy; Captain Malvern II. Barnum,
Eighth cavalry, assistant to quarter
master; First Lieutenant William Kel-
ly, Jr., Fourth cavalry; Major John M.
Banister. surgeon, u. S. A, and First
Lieutenant Franklin NJ. Kemp. U. S. A.
Ranged in a precise background of
gray and gold was the cadet body. The
president was welcomed with military
honors.
The appearance of President Roose-
welt on the plateau upon which the
buildings of the post are located was
the signal for a salute of twenty-one
guns from the post battery The first
thing on the program was review OF
the cadets. A feature was the presen-
tation to Cadet Calvin Titus of medal
provided by congress for his bravery
in scaling the wall at Pekin, China.
The president pinned the medal to the
coat OF the young man and as he did so
extended his congratulations.
The president was entertained at the
superintendent quarters and the cab
met officials were entertained at the
officers quarters.
Luncheon concluded. the formal eX-
ercises of the day were begun. Guests,
alumni and spectators assembled near
the superintendents quarters to es-
cort the president to the hall. The
parade was the most imposing event of
its kind ever seen at the academy. The
post band headed the line. The corps
of cadets came next. and then Presi-
dent Roosevelt and his cabinet; ofiic-
ers of the two branches of the service.
all in full dress uniform; commanders
of the state organizations of National
GuarG, the governors of several states.
college presidents in caps and gowns,
and other individuals of importance.
with the alumni and army officers OF
lesser rank.
The line moved around the grassy
plain and halted in front of the main
entrance TO Memorial hall.
A prayer by the chaplain of the acad-
emy and a musical number by the post
band served to introduce the program.
While the hand was playing the presi-
dent and his cabinet took seats on the
platform Colonel Mills delivered the
address of welcome and then intro
duced President Roosevelt. who made
"a brief speech that aroused the enthu-
siasm of the audience to the highest
pitch. He reviewed briefly the history
and work of the academy and spoke
of the important place it occupies in
American history and in the hearts and
affections of every true citizen of the
republic. His words of tribute to the
memory of Grant, Sherman. Mcclellan,
Sheridan and other eminent graduates
of the academy were greeted with
loud applause.
Following the presidents address
came the unveiling of the cOmmemora-
tive tablet in the front Yestibule of the
hall. General John NJ. Schofield, presi-
dent of the Association of Graduates of
the Military Academy, delivered the
dedicatory address.
The tablet, which is an artistic piece
of work. bears the following inscrip-
ton: This tablet, unveiled June IL,
1902. commentaries the completion or
the first century of the United States
Military academy. proposed and advo-
Gated by Washington, founded by patri-
OTIS of the revolution, fostered by the
devoted efforts of her children this