Graduation ceremony and secret narcissism

My avatar is of my kid’s West Point graduation last May. The hat toss is a very big deal to them after 47 months in the gray prison. For us, not so much. I really feel for this year’s cadets who are being forced to attend a distanced ceremony in an empty stadium. Navy did it right with a virtual ceremony IMO, but the cadets DO have to return to post to outprocess regardless of the disappointing graduation decisions and none of the pre-week traditions/awards/parades shared with family. Many of the parents are bereft and have to deal with the implications of cancelling year-in-advance travel and accommodations on top of missing the pomp and circumstance of an event they couldn’t imagine being left out of. It might not be my thing, but I am sad for those who feel cheated out of a milestone event in their child’s life.