In The Pilot for May 23, Paul Lehto cited an article by Wall Street Journal writer William McGurn who compared the graduating ceremonies at Benedictine College in Kansas and Harvard

Facts on Harvard ROTC

In 2007 Harvard ROTC commissioned 12 graduates as officers in various branches of the service.

During his tenure in office, former President Lawrence Summers attended every commissioning of ROTC officers and was a strong supporter of the ROTC program.

President Drew Gilpin Faust will attend her first commissioning this year. This is her first year as president, having been inaugurated on Oct. 12, 2007. For the record, future officers of four branches of the U.S. armed services formed a closing color guard at Dr. Faust's historic inauguration ceremony as the first woman president of Harvard.

Since this year's ceremony has not yet taken place, I do not know how Paul Lehto (May 23 letter) knows the content of her speech on that day. To my knowledge, it has not been publicly released.

Mr. Lehto has, unfortunately, used inference and innuendo based on an article in another newspaper to make disingenuous and possibly defamatory remarks about what he assumes Dr. Faust will say at the commissioning.

In closing, I have American pride for our future officers as they pass through the Harvard Yard gate under the words "Depart to serve better thy country and thy kind," for their commissioning, and I pray for their safety in their service for our country and our world.

Nancy Jacobs

Harvard class of 1979

Southern Pines