One Flag, One Country, One Destiny
by
Don Stivers

The Confederate graduates return to West Point:
In the morning of June 17, 1875, the Corps of Cadets honored the returning alumni. The cadets took their position in front of the Superintendent's house. The returning alumni then marched onto the Plain led by the Superintendent, Colonel Thomas H. Ruger '54, and the Commandant of Cadets, Lieutenant Colonel Emory Upton May '61, to the tune of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home". The Alumni halted in front of the cadets. After honors had been rendered, Colonel Ruger welcomed all of the returning graduates to their "West Point Home". He then suggested that the returning graduates greet each other openly as a gesture of comradeship and reconciliation. Without hesitation, James Longstreet '42, took the initiative and grasped the hand of Horace Porter '60, who had fought against him and won the Medal of Honor a Chickamauga.
As was the established procedure, the annual AOG meeting was held after the returning graduates had dinner together. That night, after the meal was concluded, Professor Charles Davies '15, addressed the AOG. While his theme was the commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, he began by welcoming his fellow graduates and acknowledging their sacrifices during the Civil Was. Reminding them of their common heritage as West Point graduates, he concluded his remarks by pronouncing, "...henceforth and forever, we have ONE FLAG, ONE COUNTRY, ONE DESTINY".
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