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Anthony Rush Accepts Nine Year Naval Commitment and United States Naval Academy Appointment
by Edward Paul Greiff
 | | Anthony Rush (center) poses with his father, Frank and mother, Diane, as they display the Naval Academy "Certificate of Accomplishment selecting Anthony Rush for an offer of appointment to the United States Naval Academy with the Class of 2011." Missing from the family photo is his sister Diane and older brother Frank Jr. who is serving a tour of duty with the U.S. Marines. |
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Putnam Valley resident Frank Rush was working at his job as a New York City Fireman with Rescue Company One when his son Anthony Rush received a bulky nine-by-twelve envelope from the Naval Academy on Saturday, January 13, 2007. They waited for Frank to come home before opening it, and he explained, "I am so glad they did… I had to read that first sentence twice to grasp it, it didn't click the first time, then the realization set in and we were all just floating, awesome and the laughter and tears of joy and talking to family and friends on the phone. I remember Tony taking a sigh and saying 'all his hard work finally paid off.'"
The contents of the envelope was an acceptance letter for Anthony to the Naval Academy for the Class of 2011. Anthony explains, "I think everyone that does get accepted to the Naval Academy understands how massive the appointment is because the only people who apply there are the ones who really want to attend there, they know what they are getting into and once they are appointed to Annapolis they do understand how all the hard work has paid off for them."
Continuing, Tony informs us, "Since it is the military, tuition and room and board are free, but you do have to pay for your uniforms. Then after four years of college at the Naval Academy, you do have to do a five-year commitment as an officer in either the Navy or Marines."
Diane Rush, Tony's mom, adds, "Tony gets sworn in at the end of June and then the first week of July he's gone."
When asked what made him decide to go to Annapolis, Rush replied, "Three years ago my cousin Chris was graduating from boot camp down in Parris Island, South Carolina, and just to see his dedication and bravery to go into the Marines inspired me to want to do the same thing. So I thought the best route for me was the Naval Academy because my family is in the Navy and Marines. When we went to see my brother graduate last October we visited the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The academy really impressed the entire family. We visited West Point but liked Annapolis better. More modern and it's near the water."
In order to get nominated to Annapolis, Anthony had to secure the nominations of 3 levels of Federal government along the way. Congresswoman Sue Kelly nominated him and it was through her board he got the appointment. On January 3rd he interviewed with Senator Hillary Clinton's committee for Annapolis and after that with Vice President Dick Cheney's committee for Annapolis appointments. Frank Rush commented, "All three saw something in his application to pursue nominating him for an appointment."
Tony, the second Boy Scout Eagle Scout to come from the Rush family in as many years, is no stranger to the hard work that looms before him. Just as his older brother contributed to the community by creating the 9/11 Memorial at the PV Town Park, Tony's Eagle Scout project culminated in the "Welcome to Putnam Valley" community event sign.
Speaking of his experiences with scouting, Tony told the PCN&R in an interview that scouting "has taught me a lot of different things, life skills basically, like leadership, determination, sticking through to what you start, and basic survival skills you can't learn anywhere else. Scouting has helped me become a better student, but school work comes easy to me."
Anthony, in reply to the question of what he can do to help motivate the other kids in school, said, "I can't force them to do what they don't want to do if they don't have the determination. I can't force them to try to do anything they don't want to do, but for me I feel always being involved in these different activities and just to show other kids how my determination has gotten me some place in life. Hopefully my involvement will inspire other kids."
During the interview with their son, Frank Rush complimented his wife saying, "A huge part of our children is that woman there being able to nurture them and being home for them, that's her career and our home and what she's done for us. I'd put her up against any woman that's out there in a professional field, in a corporate world, any day of the week."
Diane Rush added her comments, "Frankie will be 20 in June, Anthony will be 18 in April, and my daughter Diane will be 13 in February. You learn as you go along, a lot has to do with the mom I had. I came from a family of 7 kids and she was a stay-at-home mom also it just follows suit."
Frank Rush said, "Good traits are passed on and it never stops. Its part of what she does as a mom and we do as a family. We just had a discussion about home being base. Frankie is off in the Marine Corps and Tony is on his way to the Naval Academy and no matter what, mom and dad are always base. No matter where we are, we're base for our family and to me it is a very comforting feeling to have them know that."
And that home Frank referred to has been in the family since 1845 and is situated off a private dirt road appropriately named "Rush Road." The Rush family, Frank, his aunt and uncle own approximately sixty acres.
As we ended our discussion at the family dinner table, which sits at the end of a large long country style kitchen, Anthony Rush commented, "The family dinner table has been the place for family discussions, arguments, disagreements, and agreements, it's all taken place here."
Frank Rush concludes, "Looking back to when the kids were babies until now, it does my heart a lot of good to think about the times we've had at this kitchen table. It's where the communication that is so important in a family, takes place."
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