Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today honored members of the U.S. Military Academy during West Point Day in Albany. Cadets from all across New York State as well as many officers joined legislators in the Assembly Chamber for passage of a resolution honoring the institution, which has guarded New York and the valuable Hudson River from invasion for over 200 years.

“The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has a tremendous tradition and was critical in protecting our state during the American Revolution,” Hawley said. “As a veteran and son of a veteran, I can relate to the extraordinary sacrifices made by West Point Cadets. I want to thank all the members of West Point for enriching the heritage of New York State and their role in protecting our great nation.”

Hawley currently serves as Ranking Minority Member of the Assembly’s Veterans’ Affairs Committee and sponsors a plethora of legislation which would increase services and free programs for veterans. He delivered an impassioned speech during today’s ceremony praising West Point.

“Tens of thousands of brave souls have graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, and today is a day to recognize the courageous contributions they made so we may all sleep safely at night,” Hawley said. “Four years of molding, intense physical and mental training, academically rigorous coursework, and military expertise help shape cadets into some of the best and brightest soldiers in the U.S. military. As you leave West Point and enter the Armed Forces, I, along with my colleagues, thank you for your service and for enriching this prestigious academic and military institution.”