West Point Sophomore Jack Kraus '12 Gives Morning Chapel

Alumnus Jack Kraus '12, sophomore at the United States Military Academy at West Point, gave the Chapel Talk this morning to our seventh and eighth graders.

Jack told the boys of an experience he had had at Grand Central Terminal at Christmastime, when he was a senior at Lawrenceville. While waiting for a train and having breakfast at the Terminal, he noticed a man who was homeless. The man sat down and opened a container of food. Before the man ate, he bowed his head and prayed. That moment made Jack realize that there was so much in his own life that he took for granted. Here, before him, was someone who seemed not to have a lot, but who was grateful for what he did have.

"My challenge to all of you here today is to 'earn this,' " Jack said, drawing upon the last line in the movie Saving Private Ryan; noting how fortunate they all are to be at a school like Saint David's, and how vital it is to give back by contributing to the greater good.

He encouraged them to continue to do the good works that the boys engage in through all of the service projects at our school, closing with: "When you leave Saint David's, the work doesn't stop, you have to find a way to keep doing good in the world in order to be a good man."

It was wonderful to see Jack back at school this morning. The message of his talk is an important one for our boys to hear, and all the more powerful when delivered by someone who sat in the same Chapel just a few years ago and is now serving our country.

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