Alix Schoelcher Idrache graduated from West Point earlier this week, along with more than 950 future leaders of the United States Army. You might have even seen his photo at the graduation: a young man standing at attention with tears streaming down both cheeks. The picture has gone viral in every sense of the word, so we wanted to learn more about the man behind the shot.
While every single one of West Point’s graduates endured a tough (but hopefully formative) four years, Alix’s journey started well before he arrived at The Point. You see, Alix was born in Haiti–a country with limited prospects and possibilities for ambitious young men. So he left Haiti for Maryland in 2009 where he joined the Maryland National Guard for two years. While in the Maryland National Guard, Alix earned his citizenship.
The following year, Alix was accepted as a cadet to West Point. In the photo below, you can see Alix as a West Point Freshman talking with Brig. Gen. Peter Hinz, MDARNG Assistant Adjutant General – Army during the National Guard’s senior leaders visit to West Point.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8184/8099591552_5448ac4860_b.jpg
Cut to this week, where he stood among some of our nation’s finest young adults. He said that he had no idea the photo had gone viral until he woke up yesterday.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFwlVmGG9HY/
Alix then took to Instagram to write this message to those who had an impact on his life:
At this moment, I was overwhelmed with emotions. Three things came to mind and led to those tears. The first is where I started. I am from Haiti and never did I imagine that such honor would be one day bestowed on me.
The second is where I am. Men and women who preserved the very essence of the human condition stood in that position and took the same oath. Men who preserved the Union is a dark period of this country’s history. Men who scaled the face of adversity and liberated Europe from fascism and nazism. Women like CPT Greist, LT Haver, MAJ Jaster [the first female Ranger School graduates] who rewrote the narrative and challenged the status quo to prove themselves worthy of being called Rangers.
The third is my future. Shortly after I leave, I will report to Ft. Rucker to start flight school. Knowing that one day I will be a pilot is humbling beyond words. I could not help but be flooded with emotions knowing that I will be leading these men and women who are willing to give their all to preserve what we value as the American way of life. To me, that is the greatest honor. Once again, thank you.
That’s a pretty well-written message from someone who spent four years learning math, history, computer science, and strategy. I’m an English major, who speaks the language natively and I don’t even think I could come up with something like that.
Check out some more photos of Second Lieutenent Alix Idrache in the photo gallery below.
