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                         May 24, 2002

International cadets to participate in graduation

By Pfc. Nate Jastrzemski
Staff Writer

The U.S. Military Academy has opened its doors to the French Military Academy Ecole Speciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr for graduation week, creating an opportunity for cadets from both schools to participate in each other’s 2002 graduation ceremonies.

Maj. Brian Poe, an instructor in the department of foreign languages here, said the idea of the exchange began when then Secretary of Defense William Cohen offered the possibility to his French counterpart -- paving the way for a bicentennial graduation event that could be shared by both institutions.

The entirety of the senior Saint-Cyr class -- almost 200 cadets -- is touring many historic cities on America’s East Coast and will arrive at West Point Tuesday. The contingent will participate in the graduation parade May 31 and will attend the ceremony June 1.

For its part, USMA will send 175 volunteer cadets to France to march in a traditional military parade and view graduation July 20, Poe added.

Saint-Cyr was originally created by Napoleon Bonaparte on May 1, 1802, and is sharing its bicentennial festivities with West Point.

"The French have a term called ‘bin omage,’" Poe said. "It has no real translation in English, but kind of means blood brothers.

"To us it means we are now linked in spirit, and by doing our celebrations together, we will have a lasting professional bond between their cadets and our cadets," he added.