A photo showing tears streaming down the face of a Hatian-born cadet at a recent West Point Military Academy graduation ceremony has gone viral.
The cadet, Alix Idrache, moved to the United Staed from Haiti in 2009. He earned his citizenship and then served with the Maryland Army National Guard for two years.
Idrache then entered West Point. He graduated Monday and became a second lieutenant along with more than 950 of his classmates, CNN reported.
Idrache commented on the academy’s Instagram post Tuesday, expressing gratefulness for so many kind thoughts from those who saw the emotional image.
“At this moment, I was overwhelmed with emotions,” he explains. “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 have preserved the very essence of the human condition stood in that position and took the same oath… The third is my future… 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."