Dear Fellow Graduate and Friend of West Point,

As graduates, we swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution “against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”  Today, we believe domestic threats—advanced through politics, media influence, academia (including service academies), and unelected bureaucracies—are putting the principles West Point exists to defend at risk.

We are the MacArthur Society—an association of West Point graduates formed to help preserve the Long Gray Line by promoting an apolitical, merit-based Academy grounded in the American Creed: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. We’re writing to ask you to join us—and to support this work with a financial contribution.

War evolves, technology changes, and institutions adapt—but the principles at stake do not.  The Constitution’s protections of individual rights are not negotiable, and the officer corps must remain educated, trained, and led in a way that keeps faith with them.

In recent decades, adversarial views of governing have grown inside our borders.  In many leading universities, viewpoint diversity has been replaced by ideological conformity—often at the expense of objectivity and critical thinking.  West Point has not been immune.

One visible warning sign was the 2016 incident involving 2LT Spenser Rapone, who displayed a “Communism Will Win” message at graduation.  While isolated incidents do not define the Academy, they can indicate deeper cultural and curricular drift that deserves attention.

At the heart of the debate is whether individual rights take precedence over group-based entitlements.  The Declaration teaches that all are created equal and should be treated equally under the law—equal opportunity, not guaranteed equal outcomes.

We are concerned about three trends at West Point: politicization of the curriculum, erosion of the Honor Code, and race- and gender-based admissions standards.

The MacArthur Society works to inform graduates, publish analysis, and advocate for an apolitical Academy that upholds merit, character, and constitutional principles.

Will you make a tax-deductible gift today to support this work?  A contribution of $50 helps expand our outreach to graduates, $150 supports research and publishing, and $500 helps underwrite major communications and events.  Any amount makes a difference. Make a secure online donation or mail a check (payable to “The MacArthur Society”) to 12361 East Cornell Ave, Aurora, CO 80014.

MAKE A DONATION

Whether you agree with us on every point or not, we hope you’ll consider the core question: are we doing enough—as graduates bound by our oath—to ensure West Point remains a model of Duty, Honor, Country?  We invite you to stand with us, share this message with fellow graduates, and support the Society’s efforts.

Respectfully,

Paul E. Vallely
Major General (Ret), US Army
USMA Class of 1961
President
MacArthur Society of West Point Graduates

P.S. If you’re able, please make a gift today and share this letter with a classmate.  Broad graduate engagement is essential to preserving the Long Gray Line.

The MacArthur Society of West Point Graduates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. EIN: 93-3569945.

MSWPG April 2026 Fundraising Letter (pdf)