While most of the contests in which a cadet (i. e., the army) team takes part are played at West Point, some of them are played on other grounds—notably the annual football game with the Annapolis (i. e., the Navy) team—it is played on Franklin Field at Philadelphia, Penn., and it is an event of the year for Washington officials and society folks from near and from far.
[Written by the Reverend Herbert Shipman, a former chaplain at West Point, and sung by the cadets at the dedication of their new chapel, June 12, 1910.]
The Corps! bare-headed, salute it, With eyes up, thanking our God— That we of the Corps are treading Where they of the Corps have trod. They are here in ghostly assemblage, The men of the Corps long dead, And our hearts are standing attention While we wait for their passing tread.
We sons of to-day, we salute you, You, sons of an earlier day, We follow, close order, behind you, Where you have pointed the way; The long gray line of us stretches Thro’ the years of a century told, And the last man feels to his marrow The grip of your far-off hold.
Grip hands with us now though we see not, Grip hands with us, strengthen our hearts— As the long line stiffens and straightens With the thrill that your presence imparts. Grip hands, tho’ it be from the shadows, While we swear, as you did of yore, Or living, or dying to honor The Corps, and the Corps, and the Corps.
A few years ago the first class was given permission to have a club and the First Classmen’s Club was duly organized. At first the club had a room on the ground floor in the Academic Building, but now it has fine quarters on the second floor in the new North Cadet Barracks where, when it does not interfere with duty, members may go at any time between 7:15 a. m. and 9:30 p. m. and until recall from the hop on cadet hop nights. The club provides, at its own expense, such periodicals, newspapers, chess, checkers, etc., as may be approved by the superintendent. Refreshments of all kinds, gambling, cigarette smoking, and deliberations or discussions having the object of conveying praise or censure or any mark of approbation or disapprobation toward any one in the military service, are prohibited. On the week-day immediately preceding the graduation exercises, the club gives a reception to the members of the second class to introduce them to the privileges they may soon enjoy.