By Frances Hesselbein

I had the very special privilege of attending President Obama’s stirring address at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Tuesday. I was one of a small group of civilians in attendance, along with a sea of 4,000 uniformed cadets. Duty, Honor, and Country was palpable.

The message our Commander-in-Chief delivered to the cadets and our country was one of inspiring significance.

“We must draw on the strength of our values,” President Obama said, “for the challenges that we face may have changed, but the things that we believe in must not.”

I believe our times call for leaders who are healers and unifiers, and the President echoed this sentiment in his closing:

“In the end, our security and leadership does not come solely from the strength of our arms. It derives from our people – from the workers and businesses who will rebuild our economy; from the entrepreneurs and researchers who will pioneer new industries; from the teachers that will educate our children, and the service of those who work in our communities at home; from the diplomats and Peace Corps volunteers who spread hope abroad; and from the men and women in uniform who are part of an unbroken line of sacrifice that has made government of the people, by the people. And for the people a reality on this Earth.”

Photo Credit: Doug Mills/The New York Times