The West Point alumni association has canceled an awards ceremony later this month that had been scheduled to honor actor and veterans advocate Tom Hanks, an email to members said.
Retired Army Col. Mark Bieger, president and CEO of the West Point Association of Graduates, notified alumni of the cancellation in a message Friday, The Washington Post reported. Bieger wrote that the decision "allows the Academy to continue its focus on its core mission of preparing cadets to lead, fight, and win as officers in the world’s most lethal force, the United States Army," according to the Post. The association did not say in the message whether Hanks would still receive the award at another time or whether the honor had been rescinded.
Hanks had been set to receive the Sylvanus Thayer Award, which West Point presents to an outstanding citizen who did not attend the academy but exemplifies its ideals of "Duty, Honor, Country." The award was scheduled for Sept. 25 and the ceremony had been expected to include a parade on the academy grounds.
The cancellation was first reported by major outlets including The Washington Post and covered by national news organizations. The West Point Association of Graduates, which organizes the Sylvanus Thayer Award presentation, did not immediately provide further details or a public statement elaborating on the reason for the change beyond Bieger's email.
Hanks is widely known for roles in films such as Saving Private Ryan and Forrest Gump and for his public advocacy on behalf of veterans. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. In recent years Hanks has been publicly aligned with Democratic causes and supported President Joe Biden; he has also been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump. Some supporters of Mr. Trump criticized Hanks this year for a recurring "MAGA" character he portrayed on Saturday Night Live, which drew public attention and debate.
The Sylvanus Thayer Award has historically been given to non-West Point graduates who the academy's alumni association says represent the values and character the institution seeks to impart to its cadets. Past recipients have included public servants, military leaders and civic figures. The alumni association has not provided a timeline for whether the award presentation will be rescheduled or clarified whether the selection remains in place.
Requests for comment sent to the West Point Association of Graduates and to representatives for Hanks were not immediately returned. The cancellation comes amid heightened scrutiny of cultural and political debates at institutions across the country, though the association's stated reason focused on maintaining the academy's operational priorities.
Further updates may follow if the association or Hanks' representatives issue additional statements about the status of the award or plans for a future ceremony.