That old ball and chain

Magnet #507 - West Point

Up the Hudson River from me is West Point Military Academy, where the nation's best and brightest go to school, train and become officers of the U.S. Army.

I can't remember if I had to know this for school, or for my dad, or if I just wanted to know who the only 5-star generals were, but I remember learning about the Generals of the Army: General George C. Marshall, General Douglas MacArthur, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Omar N. Bradley, and Henry H. Arnold. Of the five, only Marshall didn't attend West Point, instead, he came in from Virginia Military Academy.

But I do remember reading bios on MacArthur and Bradley (and at least a dozen other bios along the way), talking about how challenging West Point was. So when I finally took the tour a few years ago, it was a fantastic getting to walk those hallowed grounds. Great tour!

It was on this same tour that I learned about the Great Chain. Apparently, during the Revolution, at West Point, they tried to block off the Brit ships from sailing up the Hudson from NYC...using a chain! What? I know!

Look, I know I didn't have that great of a history class in high school, but I swear, don't you think that if I heard, "and they used a giant iron chain tied across the Hudson River to stop the Brits" I would have remembered? Seriously. In the end, it never was tested because none of the ships went up that far. Huh. Really, though? A chain? Across the Hudson? River?

Anyway, the other reason I picked this magnet for today was because I just finished watching this week's Army Wives. Yes. I admit. Lifetime has my demo pegged, what can I say?

Whatever. I can't help it. I love this show. It's crazy, I know. Maybe it's because I'm not married, and I can't tell if it's an accurate portrayal of marriage and parenting. Or maybe it's because I'm not in the military, and I can't tell if it's an accurate portrayal of serving in the military and being an army spouse. But, it's the third season, and I'm still just as engrossed as I was from the pilot.

Not watching? That's ok. I'm used to being the only person in America left watching select television shows. Heh. I am THAT old ball and chain.