USMA: Ash Wednesday
Three score and ten years ago we were Cadets, and young ....
As a Protestant army brat during grade school, I bounded all about the Southeast, attending at least eight different schools. During that educational whirlwind, I recall only one Catholic classmate, so my knowledge of the faith was limited.
At West Point our Class of 1958 had a significant contingent of Catholic Cadets. At our rockbound highland home, I was to learn about Ash Wednesday, the holy day signifying the beginning of the 40 days of Lent. On that special Wednesday evening, our Catholic classmates attended a mass just before dinner where they received a black ash cross mark on their foreheads. Their faith dictated that they abstain from eating meat that night.
During our era at USMA, it was traditional to serve beef steaks on Wednesday evening. This culinary event became something to look forward to in the middle of the week, particularly during the "Gloom Period" -- the dark and cold winter time on the Hudson River.
At tables of ten, the medium-rare strip steaks were served family style on a large platter with French fried potatoes. Depending on the whims of the table commandant, the extra meat intended for the Catholics at the table was divided among the other cadets, including the Plebes. Usually this was decided by matching out. The winner could take no more than one sirloin or less and pass to his left where the next lucky hungry man would do the same until all was gone.
There was no lack of verbal sparring, such as "best juiciest steaks ever."
"Remember you are dust, and to dust shall return...."
Auld lang syne