by KYW's Dr. Marciene Mattleman

For almost one hundred years, cadets at the US Military Academy at West Point have sung two songs about once and future battles that, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, give them both comfort and chills.

Some report waking up at night and mentally reciting the words of the “Alma Mater” and “The Corps.”  The songs have been sung by cadets at public occasions since 1911.

After singing the songs twice last month at the funerals of two female graduates who died in action,  Lt. General Franklin Hagenbeck, head of the Academy, has proposed removing the words “men” and sons” from the songs.

Aside from a flurry of email messages, a survey on the Academy’s alumni website found that 70% of the alumni’s almost 3,000 respondents opposed the new lyrics, perhaps masking a lingering opposition to the Academy admitting females in 1976.

One recent graduate who served in Iraq, a true believer of tradition, says he’ll write in his will that the songs be sung at his funeral.

Will the words be changed? Stay tuned…