His grandfather, the Kangxi Emperor, had reigned for 61 years until 1722. In 1799, the Qianlong Emperor died, having reigned for over 60 years. When this nation was being born, China was at its height. And while the challenges have been many, you have preserved the flame of liberal democracy throughout the nation’s rise. Over the span of history, this nation has grown from thirteen fissiparous colonies to become the most powerful nation on earth. So you have been here at West Point since virtually the first birth-pangs of this great Republic. Indeed the United States continental army first occupied this place on 27 January 1778, barely two years into the Revolutionary War, when things were not proceeding all that well against the British in that great conflagration. It followed the decision by President Thomas Jefferson to establish the United States Military Academy just after his inauguration in 1801. Its founding came less than 20 years after the defeat of the British at Yorktown in 1781. Next week marks the 216th anniversary of the founding of the West Point Military Academy. Military Academy, West Point on March 5, 2018. The below is a transcript of ASPI President Kevin Rudd's speech to cadets at the U.S.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |