I have always believed that retirements are not just about the retiring individual, but present the occasion to celebrate the institution, its mission, and the people around whom the one retiring built a career.

In Paul Ringenbach's book on General McDermott, he quotes the legendary leader of West Point's Social Science Department, General Lincoln, who said "the engraving on monuments of stone and bronze does not mark achievement.  Only the engraving on the character and competence of our cadets and our young officers counts toward the fulfillment of our mission."

Before I leave this podium for the last time, I would ask each of you to reflect with me on this Academy, its mission, and the cadets who are the reason for both.  They are, after all, why we are here.  Because of them and what you do for and with them every day, whether in the class room, on the parade field, on the field of friendly strife, or anywhere across the Air Base Wing, all this makes this institution, this Academy, and its mission unique.  Unfortunately, so often, we forget this uniqueness. 

• At a time in this great nation's history when many of its citizens question America's resolve, such questioning does not exist here
  
  
• Today we live in a society in which fame is paramount to purpose--BUT NOT HERE
  

• Elsewhere values are relative, if they exist at all--BUT NOT HERE
  
  
• Mediocrity is championed--BUT NOT HERE
  
  
• Self interest pre-empts service before self--BUT NOT HERE
  
  
• In this nation's schools, cheating is expected, its methods honed, and later practiced and perfected in life
  --BUT NOT HERE
  
  
• Admittedly, the ideal is not always met here, as recent events would show, but too often in other institutions, those who fail to live up to the ideal are not admonished but tacitly rewarded--BUT NOT HERE
  
  
• At other institutions leadership stifles criticism and silences those who offer it--BUT NOT HERE
  
  
• In other classrooms, instructing is more important than learning--BUT NOT HERE
  
  
• President Ford liked to point out that you make a living on what you get, but a life on what you give.  Too often our schools teach how to make a living rather than how to nurture a life--BUT HOT HERE

And why is this?  I believe it is because we value learning:  that is, education and training for what it can make of us-not what it can make for us.

At USAFA there is a passion to serve that is shared by instructors and students alike.  It is the passion and commitment symbolized in our flag and why the flag is a critical part of this and every official ceremony.

Woodrow Wilson said it best:  "This flag which we honor and under which we serve is the emblem of our unity, our power, our thought, and our purpose as a nation"

The flag both symbolizes and defines what makes this Academy, its mission, and our cadets unique.  At West Point, they speak of the long gray line; here we speak of the long blue line.  I rather think of it as a circle, a ring of excellence and commitment-a profession that has its roots at the Academy, grows to influence the entire Air Force only to return to guide the next generation of officer leaders of character.

General MacArthur, on the occasion of his retirement at the end of a long, distinguished career, spoke those frequently repeated words:  "old soldiers never die, they just fade away."  Respectfully I would rephrase that statement:  old soldiers never die, they live in the minds and hearts of those with whom they have served and led.  So it is with all of us at the Academy; we live in the minds and hearts of our students for we shape their future.  This truth is what should integrate our efforts regardless of where we serve at the great, truly unique, institution, the United States Air Force Academy.

God bless all who learn here.

Thank you