A Haiti-born cadet at West Point was photographed crying during his graduation, and it went viral.
The moment was captured by Army Staff Sgt. Vito T. Bryant, showing 2nd Lt. Alix Schoelcher Idrache overcome with emotion. He graduated from West Point with more than 950 of his classmates.
Idrache issued a statement on Facebook after his photo was shared en masse on the social media website.
According to Fox Insider, Idrache wrote, in part:
I am from Haiti and never did I imagine that such honor would be one day bestowed on me. The second is where I am. Men and women who have preserved the very essence of the human condition stood in that position and took the same oath. Men who preserved the Union is a dark period of this country’s history. Men who scaled the face of adversity and liberated Europe from fascism and nazism. Women like CPT Griest, LT Haver, MAJ Jaster who rewrote the narrative and challenged the status quo to prove themselves worthy of being called Rangers.
Idrache then spoke of his future, and he added:
The third is my future. Shortly after leave, I will report to FT. Rucker to start flight school. Knowing that one day I will be a pilot is humbling beyond words. I could not help but be flooded with emotions knowing that I will be leading these men and women who are willing to give their all to preserve what we value as the American way of life. To me, that is the greatest honor. Once again, thank you.
According to a West Point news release, he was a leader in his class. Idrache was named a regimental commander last summer.
