West Point Association of Graduates cancels Tom Hanks’ award ceremony; Alumni cite focus on academy’s ‘core mission’

The US Military Academy Alumni Association in West Point canceled an award ceremony, which won Oscars twice and aimed to honor the Veterans lawyer Tom Hanks. It was planned to be honored with the Sylvanus Thayer award on September 25th. Hanks, a long -time supporter of democratic candidates and causes, was recently criticized for depicting a president Trump as a ‘racist’.

Retired Ordu Col. As reported by the Washington Post, Mark Bieger wrote, “This decision allows students to focus on their basic mission to lead, fight and win as a civil servant in the world’s most deadly power,” Mark Bieger wrote.

Details about the Sylvanus Thayer Award

The Sylvanus Thayer award recognizes a “elite citizen olmayan that does not participate in West Point but exemplifies the ideals of the academy“ duty, honor, country ”. The ceremony would include a passage ceremony attended by the entire student corps, and it was considered equivalent to an honorary degree from West Point. Colonel Sylvanus Thayer served as the director of the academy from 1817 to 1833.

Bieger’s E -mail did not clarify whether the Hanks prize was canceled or that it would be presented at a later date depending on the exit.

West Point and Hanks

Robert McDonald, a former Veterans Secretary and Chairman of the Graduates Association, announced in June: “Tom Hanks made more for the maintenance of American service members, American newspapers, caregivers and families and made more for the American space program and many other American branches.”
According to a statement on West Point on June 11, Hank said, “My first visit to the Academy accepted a dignity such as the Thayer award, and West Point’s leadership, character and service heritage to the nation are recognized by an institution that says that their graduation is both selfless and meaningful through selfless service.”

Hank’s senior support and political participation record

69 -year -old Tom Hanks donated to democratic figures, including former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris.
In June, the Graduates Group recognized Hanks’s role in defense of the veterans and told US service members in films such as saving Forrest Gump and Private Ryan.

Why did West Point canceled Tom Hanks’ award ceremony?

According to the Washington Post, the decision may have been influenced by the Trump period politics. Hanks supported Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign and took part in the 2022 video emphasizing the success of Biden administration.

As reported by Forbes, President Trump has brought various changes in West Point, including rolling diversity, equality and involvement (DEI). Jen Easterly, who served as Cyber ​​Security Chief under Biden, was rejected in June after the complaints of Trump Loyalist Loyalist Laura Loomer. In addition, a 20 -meter genius, a West Point graduate who fought in the civil war to protect slavery. Robert E. Lee’s portrait was Rehung in the Academy’s library.