Westy’s R-Days
If you have ever stood in the summer heat on the grounds of West Point on a Monday morning in late June or early July, watching nervous young men and women line up in formation with short haircuts and brand new low-quarters, then you have witnessed something unforgettable: Reception Day, known simply as R-Day.
R-Day marks the beginning of a grueling, transformative journey – BEAST BARRACKS – as incoming cadets officially report for duty and begin their transition from civilian life into the structured, demanding world of the United States Military Academy. It is a day full of tears, pride, nerves, and endless shouting of “Yes, sir!” or No, Ma’am!” For families, it is both heartbreaking and exhilarating.
For our family, R-Day is not just a milestone – It is a legacy. Our family’s connection to West Point spans generations. From 1958 to today, we have stood on those same granite steps, said our goodbyes with trembling hands, and felt the rush of pride that comes with knowing someone you love has chosen a path of honor and selfless service.
Here is a look at our family’s R-day timeline (for those who saw our Question of the Week, the answer is 9 since Holly and Mark had the same R-Day):
R-Day 1958
Gus Fishburne,
Class of 1962
R-Day 1987
Mark and Holly West
Class of 1991
R-Day 1990
E. G. Fishburne
Class of 1994
R-Day 2011
Allie Lycan
Class of 2015
R-Day 2013
Cooper Lycan
Class of 2017
R-Day 2015
Keegan West
Class of 2019
R-Day 2017
Lexi West
Class of 2021
R-Day 2023
Kyle West
Class of 2027
R-Day 2025
Daisy West
Class of 2029
Each of these names carries stories of determination, courage, and commitment. R-Day was just the beginning for them, but it is a moment that shaped everything that followed.
This summer, we are proud to be opening Westy’s, a bar and gathering place in the heart of Highland Falls – just a stone’s throw from the gates of West Point. Westy’s is not just a bar. It is a tribute.
One of the feature walls in Westy’s will be dedicated to R-Day and our family’s history with the Academy. It will highlight a bit of history that relates to each R-Day and culminate with the outcome that we all hope for when the first weekend of December rolls around every year. We will leave that to your imagination!
We hope Westy’s becomes a place where families come together the night before R-Day, raise a glass in nervous anticipation, and then return four years later to celebrate graduation and the end of a 47-month journey. We want to offer a space where people can share their Rday stories, and the West Point tradition is honored with every pour.
To the outsider, R-Day may seem like just another day on the calendar. But to us – and to thousands of other military families – it is a day when young people say yes to something bigger than themselves. It is a day when parents let go, when dreams take shape, and when futures are forged.
Going through it, It is a day you never forget. And now, with Westy’s, we hope it is a day we will help others remember, too.
Mark and Holly West
Owners, Westy's
