Vice President Pence marked Black History Month on Thursday with a special visit to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he met with a group of African American cadets and delivered remarks at an awards dinner on campus.
Accompanied by South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, Second Lady Karen Pence and several White House aides, the vice president toured the historic grounds of the esteemed military institution and held a sit-down meeting with black student leaders.
“It is an extraordinary privilege to be with you tonight,” Pence told students and faculty who had gathered for a dinner honoring the school’s first African American graduate, Henry Ossian Flipper.
The vice president delivered remarks minutes after the Ninth Circuit Court handed down a devastating decision for the admnistration, effectively blocking President Trump from implementing his temporary travel ban on immigrants and refugees.
But Pence spoke only about the new administration’s commitment to men and women in uniform. He reminded the crowd of Trump’s visit to U.S. Central Command earlier this week, where the president vowed to provide the military with the neccessary resources and equipment to keep Americans safe.
“On Monday, he gave a speech in which he essentially promised to stand with, and protect those who protect us,” Pence said. “And he promised to honor our sacred promise to those who serve.”
“Make no mistake about it, those promises will be kept in this administration,” he added to applause.
Pence concluded his remarks by delivering an award to Cadet Lars Lofgren, who was severely injured and paralyzed during a training exercise last summer.
“Cadet Lofgren, you’re an insipiration to all of us. You’re truly a worthy recipient of the Henry Flipper award and I am honored to be here to give it,” the vice president said.
Pence and Scott were slated to depart West Point immediately after the awards dinner to ensure Scott would be back in Washington in time to vote to confirm Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., to be secretary of Health and Human Services.
