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                         May 2, 2003

Murphy's Law   Commentary by Capt. Patrick Murphy USMA Dept. of Law

What an historic time to be serving in our military. Our armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are truly heroes in every sense of the word. They have brought freedom to people who have never been able to taste its sweet nectar.

There are those here among us at West Point who I feel deserve a special praise. Many times they may be overlooked, even though they perform an important mission.

They are the soldiers guarding our post. Many of these Army N.Y. National Guard members deployed here, leaving their families back in Buffalo. They surely deserve our thanks and appreciation.

Law Day
Thursday was Law Day. This event gave Americans an opportunity to highlight reliance on the ‘rule of law’ as a means to achieve individual liberty and social justice.

By establishing Law Day in 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, USMA Class of 1915, provided American citizens with a day to reflect on their legal heritage. Law Day celebrations inform the public about the importance of the rule of law in our society and the important role that lawyers and the judiciary serve in guaranteeing a system of equal justice under the law.

To celebrate this special day, many of us from the Department of Law, the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, the Provost Marshall’s Office and numerous cadets majoring in law gave presentations on the law at local elementary schools and came together for a 5K fun run.

We also held a coloring contest at West Point elementary that honored retired Col. Daniel Shimek (USMA 1960). Shimek is a Vietnam veteran, a retired judge advocate and currently the Chief of Legal Assistance at West Point.

Military justice
Law Day should be important to all Americans and knowing about the law and the military justice system is vital -- especially those future leaders who are 29 days away from leading our nation’s sons and daughters upon graduation.

Leaders are expected to take care of their troops, and that includes dealing with legal issues and the military justice system. Because of its importance to leadership, the academy requires every firstie to take Law 403 -- Constitutional and Military Law.

Conclusion
On Law Day in 1962 former Senator Bobby Kennedy said, "In a democratic society, law is the form which free men give to justice. The glory of justice and the majesty of law are created not just by the Constitution … but by the men and women who constitute our society. Justice, in short, is everybody’s business."