Students given military academy sendoff on Memorial Day

10-year tradition staged by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn

SAN ANTONIO – More than 100 students from throughout Texas were given a military academy sendoff on Memorial Day, a 10-year tradition staged by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.

“You got to be smart. You got to make good grades, but you also have to be a leader which is perhaps the most important requirement,” Cornyn said.

Among those who received congressional appointments to West Point were Olivia Agee and Cedric Davis of San Antonio.

“Coming from a military family, it’s something so special to me,” Davis said.

“I’m a little excited because I’ve got big things to look forward to,” Agee said.

On hand to give them the sendoff they deserve was retired Army Col. Bruce Crandall, a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.

Crandall said being their keynote speaker on Memorial Day has special significance.

“It’s a day of remembrance and it’s also a day for looking forward,” Crandall said.

Davis said his father is reminds him daily about the honor that comes with attending West Point.
“He’s very happy and proud, so proud he keeps telling me every day,” Davis said.

Agee said she agrees.

“It’s a huge honor to be one of the few potential leaders of our nation,” she said.

Cornyn said they will get a world-class education at our nation’s military academies for free, but they have to commit to joining the military upon graduation.

“That’s what they trained for. That’s what they want to do and I say, God bless them all,” he said.


About the Author:

Jessie Degollado has been with KSAT since 1984. She is a general assignments reporter who covers a wide variety of stories. Raised in Laredo and as an anchor/reporter at KRGV in the Rio Grande Valley, Jessie is especially familiar with border and immigration issues. In 2007, Jessie also was inducted into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame.