The next video is ESPN's Veteran's Day Special. What I like so much about this video is that you can see West Point in the background. It is an incredible part of American History. if you remember that is why Benedict Arnold got into so much trouble. West Point was a fort in the American Revolution and Arnold turned it over to the British.

When Tony was a freshman, he sent me an email about Parent's Day and asked me to go. I tried the links in the email, but they didn't work and I never took the time to go to the West Point web site and look up the activities.

Well, he called me on a Sunday in October of 2007, and asked me if I was going out to New York for Parent's Day. I told him that I had too much to do and had decided not to go. He sounded so discouraged that I asked him on a scale of 1 to 10, to tell me how important this was to him.

He hesitated, and then softly said, "A 10? Mom, I really want you to come."

So I decided to go. Matthew was free so he went with me. We took the Suburban and put a mattress in the back so we could lie down when not driving.

We drove to Ohio the first day where Fito's sister lives and spent the night there. Then the next day, we drove straight north up through Ohio (which was quaint little villages...absolutely gorgeous) then hit a highway that headed east flowing alongside the great lakes.

That evening we reached Niagara Falls. It was about 6 pm and they were spectacular!! There is no way to describe them, and just as anything else God makes, no camera, no video can do it justice.

We then headed east for another 2 hours until we reached the small village of Palmyra in upper state New York. This town is a historical site for members of my church. There are restored log homes, a printing shop, and other sites to tour.

We stayed in the basement of an older woman. Her back yard is against the Erie Canal. So we saw that and she told us some history of the place.

We were only able to stay the morning in Palmyra, then we headed south, driving through the Finger Lakes Region of New York. The lakes are long and narrow and pointed on the ends. Just like God took his fingers and raked them across the earth. They were caused by moving glaciers.

The area is mountainous, much like Kentucky, Missouri, or Tennessee and yet in the valleys are these long glistening lakes. Of course, being October, the trees were turning color, the mist was rising from the lakes and it was an inspiring 5 hour drive to West Point.

We had to go through security to get on to West Point, and we were very lucky that Tony had found us a place to stay on base. Other parents had to go through security each time they came to an event, but Matthew and I just walked around and enjoyed the history and the beauty of the place.

I had no clue what was going to happen, but Saturday morning we were to be at the field down in front of the big buildings (the same field you see on the video). We were sitting in the bleacher when from the arches of the buildings the cadets began to spill forth in formation.

They came from three different arches and all met at the field, then they each marched in front of the generals and did other routines. I did not know, but this is tradition to present the new cadets to the leaders of the army.

I thought this was just like any other college's parent day and I would walk around campus with my son and see his dorm, etc.

Instead, there were generals and leaders from the pentagon. Other civic leaders. Most families were complete. They had brought siblings, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. (I guess they were smart enough to read about this and understand the military tradition and significance of the occasion.

Later that evening, the was a black tie dinner, with impressive speakers, more tradition, a ball with a live military band. It was an incredible day. I was awed by the patriotism and the commitment that I saw in the boys and in their families.

There is a lot wrong in our country today, but when you see so many families together in one place where duty, honor, and country still mean everything--it is gladdening to the heart!

The next day we took a train into New York and then took a quick tour of the city. It was clean everywhere I was. There were flags hanging out apartment windows, hanging in the foyers of buildings, on the sides of taxi cabs. It was one of the most patriotic cities I have ever been in. So many people thanked Tony for his service (cadets have to wear their uniforms most of the time). He was given discounts or free passes.

I have been in 32 states now, and it doesn't matter what part of the US you visit. It is beautiful, the people are kind, and they love America.

Tony graduates next year, and I plan to take the whole family on the same trip. i can hardly wait to share with them all the neat things we did and saw.

I tell my children that West Point's cafeteria is like the one at Hogwarts in Harry Potter. It is a huge rock cathedral type edifice. The whole campus is made of rock and overlooks the Hudson River.

Again, Tony is on the front row, far left.