Our town has the distinct honor of having two Westborough men graduating this year from the West Point Military Academy.  Cadets Matthew Jedras and Matthew Berman will begin their five-year army commission as second lieutenants upon graduation this May.  I am extremely proud to say that Cadet Berman is my step son.

The United States Military Academy at West Point is one of the most selective colleges in the country in which applicants need to have excelled academically in high school, demonstrated leadership, passed rigorous physical fitness requirements and received a nomination from a member of the US Congress.

I am also very proud to have just learned that Cadet Berman has been named one of a few select cadets to march at President Obama’s inauguration next week.  Please see press release at:

http://www.usma.edu/news/Shared%20Documents/Cadets%20March%20In%20Inaugural%20Parade.pdf

(note: the release mistakenly identifies Mathew’s home state as Connecticut)

Cadets have been taking part in inaugurals since March 2, 1873, the second inauguration for President Ulysses S. Grant, who was a West Point graduate of the class of 1843.  This will also mark the 25^th time that cadets marched in inaugural parade.  The parade, which starts at 2:30 p.m. Monday, January 21^st, will travel from the intersection of Pennsylvania and Constitution avenues to the White House. The cadets will be wearing long gray overcoats and service caps for the parade.  This distinct uniform has earned the Corps of Cadets the famous title “The Long Gray Line.”