Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 116 Part 1.djvu/103

 PUBLIC LAW 107-152—MAR. 14, 2002 116 STAT. 77 Public Law 107-152 107th Congress Joint Resolution Congratiilating the United States Military Academy at West Point on its bicentennial Mar. 14, 2002 anniversary, and commending its outstanding contributions to the Nation. [SJ Res 32] Whereas establishing a military academy to teach the technical arts of war was a desire of many of our founding fathers, particularly George Washington; Whereas Congress passed legislation on March 16, 1802, to establish such a military academy to be located at West Point, New York, a site that Washington called the key to the continent because of its strategic importance during the Revolution; Whereas President Thomas Jefferson signed the legislation establishing the United States Military Academy at West Point, an institution dedicated to promoting scientific education to benefit the Nation and to attracting a diverse array of young citizens to the Nation's military leadership; Whereas Sylvanus Thayer, who served as Superintendent of the Academy from 1817 to 1833, established the foundation of the Academy's strong academic program, strict adherence to discipline, and emphasis on moral and ethical conduct; Whereas under Douglas MacArthur's leadership as Superintendent from 1919 to 1922, the Academy was modernized to prepare its graduates for the challenges of the 20th century; Whereas the Academy, the first school in America to teach engineering, produced graduates who were responsible for the construction of the Nation's first railroad lines and many of its early harbor improvements, bridges, roads, and canals; Whereas Academy graduates introduced engineering education to numerous colleges and universities, and carried out such monumental engineering projects as the construction of the Panama Canal project; Whereas Academy graduates have also distinguished themselves in the leadership of such innovative scientific research and development projects as the development of atomic bombs in the Manhattan Project during World War II; Whereas Academy graduates have served with character and distinction in all of America's wars and military actions since the War of 1812; Whereas 74 Academy graduates have earned the Nation's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor; Whereas 2 Academy graduates, Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower, served both as distinguished general officers and as the President of the United States, and many other graduates have served in all levels of government;

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