<p>I pray that people will take the time to thank our brave soldiers for sacrificing their todays for our children's safer tomorrow. </p>
<p>For the families of our soldiers who gave their lives, I pray that time will provide happy loving memories in place of present sorrows. </p>
<p>God bless you and thank you.</p>
<p>Oh, shogun, this is so very sad. I spoke with my daughter this evening and she said they are having a vigil later tonight. She was unsure of the details and I'm sure it will be devastating news for all of the cadets.
My thoughts and prayers are with her family.</p>
<p>See the following link:</p>
<p>The vigil tonight is for CSM Mary Sutherland, who recently passed away. She retired after 35 years as the longest-serving female soldier in the history of the United States Army. She served the last seven years (1997-2004) at West Point as the CSM for the Commandant and then the Superintendent.</p>
<p>My wife has repeated this story about CSM Sutherland many times. After R-Day in 2003 when it was time to leave after the Oath Ceremony at Trophy Point, my wife must have appeared sad. Perhaps the tears had something to do with this. As the Officers and NCOs were making their way back from the ceremony she stopped to console my wife and assure her by saying "Don't worry Mom, we take care of our Cadets here." How easy it would have been for her to just smile and walk by, rather than take the time to stop and speak. However, that is typical of the experiences we have had with the caring staff at USMA.</p>
<p>my prayers go out to all triple nickle soldiers. Come home safely.</p>
<p>Prayers and thoughts go out from our house as well. Words don't seem to exsist that are worthy enough for me to use to say thank you to our soldiers. I'll just add my humble thanks and support and hope it's enough to express how deeply it is meant.</p>