Nation Needs Them, Petraeus Tells VMI Grads 

LEXINGTON, Va., May 16, 2009 – Army Gen. David H. Petraeus shook the hand of each of the 249 members of the VMI Class of 2009 after they accepted their diplomas. Many of the 128 graduates who commissioned the day before will serve in the area of operations he is responsible for as commander of U.S. Central Command.

In his commencement address, Petraeus commended the graduates for overcoming the hardships they have faced as cadets to earn their diplomas, and he urged them to join the generations of Virginia Military Institute graduates who have lived their lives committed to work worth doing.

“Now, more than ever, our nation and our world need leaders like those developed here – disciplined, intelligent, innovative and courageous leaders who are committed to service,” said Petraeus. “Whether in the deserts of Iraq or the mountains of Afghanistan, in the commercial sector or in the domestic political arena, there is much work worth doing.”

To the graduates who will be serving their country in the coming months – 56 percent of the Class of 2009 – Petraeus paid special thanks.

“Each one of you raised your right hand and said ‘send me’ to do the hard work our country requires,” he said. “There is tremendous courage in your decision to do so, for you knew that it meant you would deploy to a combat zone to help fight our nation’s wars. As I know you recognize, there are few easy days or easy tasks, so thank you for your commitment to serve and to lead America’s sons and daughters as they soldier selflessly in Iraq, in Afghanistan and throughout the world.”

For a graduating class who will set out to fulfill VMI’s ideal of the citizen-soldier by pursuing careers of leadership in the military and civilian sectors, a visit from a major national leader was an inspirational way to end their cadetship.  Prior to being tapped head of U.S. Central Command, Petraeus was commander of the Multi-National Force-Iraq. He was commissioned in the Infantry upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1974, and he has held leadership positions in airborne, mechanized and air assault infantry units in Europe and the United States. He has held a number of high-level staff assignments, as well.

Also addressing the graduates was Cadet Nicholas Campbell of Townsend, Mont., who was elected by his classmates as valedictorian; Cadet Benjamin Kimsey of Harrisonburg, Va., class president; and Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III, superintendent of VMI.

Special awards presented during the ceremony included the First Jackson-Hope Medal for highest attainment in scholarship and the Society of Cincinnati Medal for efficiency of service and excellence of character to Cadet Gregory Lippiatt of York, Pa. Lippiatt, who graduated with Institute Honors and is VMI’s 11th Rhodes Scholar, will be studying medieval history at Oxford University before serving in the U.S. Army. The Second Jackson-Hope Medal for second highest attainment in scholarship was presented to Cadet Lauren McKinley of Waterford, N.Y., who has commissioned into the U.S. Navy.

-VMI-