The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has canceled a planned ceremony to present actor Tom Hanks with the Sylvanus Thayer Award, according to reports. The award, which recognizes an “outstanding citizen,” was initially set to honor Hanks, 69, but officials confirmed the event would not proceed as scheduled.
Retired Col. Mark Bieger, a member of the West Point Association of Graduates, stated the decision was made to ensure the academy remains focused on its core mission of training future military leaders. “This 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,” Bieger wrote in an email. The statement did not clarify whether Hanks’s award would be presented in a different format or if it had been rescinded.
The cancellation followed criticism from figures like Donald Trump Jr., who tweeted support for the decision, calling it “great to see @SecArmy holding the line for @realDonaldTrump to make our Military strong again.” The alumni association’s former chairman, Robert McDonald, had previously praised Hanks for his portrayals of service members in films such as Saving Private Ryan and Forrest Gump, as well as his work on WWII miniseries Band of Brothers and The Pacific. Hanks also contributed to the creation of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
No further details were provided about the status of the award, as West Point officials directed inquiries to the alumni association. A representative for Hanks did not respond to requests for comment.
