Annually, since 1958, the Thayer Award has recognized a lifetime of service of a great American. This year’s recipient, the Honorable Madeleine K. Albright, wanted to recognize the great American service men and women she has encountered over her lifetime.
Early in her acceptance speech before the Corps of Cadets, Dr. Albright acknowledged the remarkable list of Thayer Award recipients to which she now belongs and said the one with whom she most wanted to share the stage was the 2002 winner—The American Soldier. From her time as young refugee in England during World War II watching “the Yanks” come to Europe’s aid, to her time as the 64th Secretary of State visiting soldiers stationed overseas, Dr. Albright said that she has always been impressed by their enthusiasm and commitment and, “as one citizen,” acknowledged an “enormous debt to those who have chosen to contribute their energy and talents to the armed forces of our country.”