[ ] welcome to fox news chance west point holiday show. i m sandra smith coming to you from the grounds of the united states it in academy, west point, new york. it s one of our oldest military posts at one of america s most fabled universities. the west point band is one of america s finest american musical organizations. we ll hear the musicians on stage as they perform in their annual holiday con certain. but first a look at how west point played a crucial role in our nation s independence before it became the press i juice military academy we know today. [ ] the academy sits on a plateau overlooking new york s hudson river. the location chosen in 1778 by george washington is no accidents. he thought west point was the strategic key to its defense by stopping the british advancements during the revolutionary war. 12 years later the college was established, dedicated to training professional leaders in warfare. in 1817 known as the father of west point. the general boost