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Post by Diane Merkel on Apr 2, 2006 13:57:55 GMT -6
One of our LBHA members is at West Point today and was denied access to the cemetery because he did not have an affiliation with anyone at USMA. I had never heard of such a situation before, but my husband was able to get a friend to escort our member to the cemetery.
West Point, like other military installations, has a tighter security policy these days. If you are a civilian going up there, be sure to make arrangements in advance for entry; otherwise, you may only be able to go to the visitors center which is not on campus.
Diane
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Post by bubbabod on Apr 3, 2006 15:19:12 GMT -6
Hi, Diane. Are you saying that the public is no longer allowed to visit, walk around the cemetary at West Point? Is that since 9/11? That's terrible. I was able to walk around there about 12 years ago and visited, of course, the Custers' graves. I know: is he or isn't he actually buried there? I wish I'd taken more time to walk around. I did see Wesley Merritt's grave, I think it was. While in the museum I also saw the original of Cook's bring pacs note. Probably the highlight for me. What a beautiful place that is.
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Post by Diane Merkel on Apr 3, 2006 17:09:53 GMT -6
It sounds as if you can go to the visitors center and the museum without any problem. According to West Point's website, "Visitors may enter the academy grounds only by guided tours." Apparently, the guided tours do not include the cemetery until later in the spring, which meant that our member could not go to the cemetery until our friend (an instructor there) took him there. The website suggests you check on the tours before making the trip. See www.usma.edu/PublicAffairs/vic.htm.
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Post by mwkeogh on Jun 24, 2007 14:02:20 GMT -6
Tis true. They have closed the West Point campus to all outsiders due to security concerns. The same holds true for the Statue of Liberty, which no longer allows tourists to ascend to the top. It seems little by little the heritage and history of our nation are being slowly taken away from the American population.
On a different note, other Custer sites to be had at West Point (should they ever open the campus to the public again) is the very beautiful and picturesque walk down "Lovers Lane" to the edge of the Hudson River, which Autie once escorted Libby in their one memorable visit to the Point.
There is also the West Point "Crows Nest" located just north of the campus beside the Hudson River, that Varnum mentioned as resembling the Montana Crows Nest of LBH fame.
And of course, who could forget the famous 'Benny Havens' tavern that Custer and so many other famous cadets snuck out to during certain evenings to enjoy the local brew. There is a Benny Havens tavern now in the town just south of the main gate, however, this was not the original tavern. The remains of the original Benny Havens can still be found if you know where to look for it. Just south of the main gate and down a steep hill that takes you to a parking area where the town parks its trucks and work vehicles....then on foot down to the edge of the Hudson River. The remnants of Benny Havens is then due north just within the cover of the timber and just west of the railroad tracks beside a small stream that empties into the Hudson. The area is used by local fishermen and picknickers now, most of whom are ignorant of the history of this special spot. The old staircase of Benny Havens still exists in the woods and leads up the hill in the direction of the academy. I still recall with some fondness a trip we took there at night during a drizzling rain accompanied by the General, the Grand Duke Alexis, Capt. Weir, Nora W. during the LBHA conference at West Point some years ago.
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