Dear Fork Union Family,

Each year on September 11, our nation pauses in solemn reflection to remember lives lost, families forever changed, and the extraordinary courage displayed during one of history's darkest hours. I remember I was teaching sixth grade science when news began to spread across campus. It is a day that seems both distant and simultaneously has a "feels like yesterday" quality for me.

We stand in enduring gratitude for the selfless first responders who rushed into danger without hesitation and the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who stepped forward to defend our freedoms in the years that followed.

For our current Corps of Cadets, September 11 is not an event they experienced, but a chapter they learn through history. This reality places a profound responsibility on us as educators, parents, and alumni. At Fork Union Military Academy, "Never Forget" cannot be a passive remembrance. It must serve as an active opportunity to develop young men with a sense of duty, honor, and selfless service. Today, our Commandant of Cadets, COL Charlie Coulter, will include a time of remembrance and reflection during Commandant's Call, giving our Corps of Cadets the opportunity to pause, honor those affected by September 11, and consider the meaning of service, sacrifice, and duty. As a Christian military academy, we must teach our young men that true strength lies in standing firm in our faith and serving others above ourselves.

Our hope for the future is built directly upon the pillars of faith and character. When we develop the whole man, we strengthen the body through disciplined accountability, cultivate the mind through focused learning, and anchor the spirit in the enduring truth of Christ. In doing so, we build leaders capable of bringing light into moments of adversity.

To the Corp of Cadets: the brotherhood you build here, and the discipline you embrace each day on Fraley Circle, in the classroom, on the athletic fields, and in the barracks, will prepare you for a higher calling. The nation will always need young men of uncompromising integrity and moral courage. As we honor the sacrifices of the past, let us look forward with a steadfast hope, confident that the lessons learned within our Corps will guide you to serve and lead our communities and our nation with honor in the years ahead.

May God bless our fallen heroes and their families, protect those who continue to serve, and may He guide the young men of Fork Union Military Academy.

COL Stephen Macek, Acting President
Fork Union Military Academy