>> again, thanks for watching this special edition of "the factor." please always remember, the spin stops here. we're definitely looking out for you. welcome to it west point holiday, i'm gretchen carlson. i'm on the military academy at west point, new york. tonight we will explore the rich history of west point, get a rare glimpse of the living traditions of the united states military and most of all get to enjoy the music of the army's oldest band. ♪ ♪ >> the west point band is one of america's finest military musical organizations. throughout the next hour, we're going to hear them on the fields, in the hall, and on stage as they perform for the public. ♪ giddy up, giddy up.

>> because it wouldn't be the holi around here without the annual west point holiday concert in eisenhower hall. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> named for the class of 1915, graduate president dwight eisenhower, eisenhower hall is one of largest theaters in america designed to hold the entire corps of cadets. let's go inside and catch the opening number of a west point holiday. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> it's the west point holiday show. ♪ are lots of yuletide throughout the year

♪ ♪ ♪ west point holiday ♪ west point holiday show ♪ it's the west point holiday show. [ applause ] >> we will be bringing you much more of the west point holiday concert over the next hour from right here at america's oldest military post and one of our country's most fabled universities. each year thousands of cadets graduate from here to become officers in the united states army, the academy sits on a plateau overlooking new york's hudson's river. and its location chosen in 1778 is no accident.

♪ ♪ >> george washington considered west point the key to the continent. the continental army could control west point, they could control the hudson river. >> general washington chose its location to stop the british advancement during the rev -- revolutionary war: the college was established 1802 devote to the arts and sciences of warfare. >> they put it right here because this is where the majority of the army was. and jefferson, even though he didn't want a large standing army, wanted school-trained engineers to be able to survey the country and to help expand. ♪ ♪ >> now more than 200 years later, today's cadets are well aware of the impressive legacy placed on their shoulders. >> it's a privilege and honor to be here. going to be second lieutenant in the army. going to be in charge of 30

or 40 shoulders. -- soldiers. we don't take that lightly. we do our best to live those values each and every day. >> being here, being with the brightest and smartest minds of the u.s. is amazing. i mean, i'm fully exposed to people who i honor, who i trust and who i will trust with my life throughout my four years here and throughout my time. >> our mission at west point is to educate, train, and inspire leaders of character. we develop cadets intellectually, militarily, physically. what our mission statement really focuses on the character development. you can be competent militarily or intellectually or physically. but if you fail in character, you have therefore failed on leadership. ♪ ♪ >> and as long as there had been soldiers at west point, there has been a band. >> music at west point begins with a very first soldiers who were placed here during the revolution.

>> by the time you get to the american revolution, field and music and bands associated with the military were fairly commonplace. ♪ ♪ >> military drums were the primary form of communication from the american revolution to the civil war. >> armies on both sides of the conflict employed not only field music but also much larger bands. ♪ ♪ >> and the bugle achieved an increasingly important role for the ability of its bold, brilliant sound to be heard on the battlefield. >> to help morale, to help motivate soldiers and to provide instructions that can be heard over the den of battle. ♪ ♪ >> there used to be many music halls throughout the day to tell soldiers to do all sorts of things, mail call, chow call, call to quarters in the east coast. all these different musical pieces kept them on task. >> each day at west point still begins the same way at

06:30. ♪ >> with the blast of a cannon in the pre-dawn darkness. >> the honor guard will prepare to raise the flag and there will be a cannon shot and then one of the biewg bugelers. >> it draws the soldier's attention. they have to stand at attention and salute the flag when it goes up. >> but today's field musicians are not your grandfather's drummers and buglers. when we come back, we will take you back inside to show what you a field music christmas looks like. bu quick break, here is the west point cadet glee club performing comfort and joy ♪

♪ god rest you ye merry gentlemen. ♪ christ the savior was born on christmas day ♪ when we were gone astray ♪ o tidings of comfort and joy ♪ comfort and joy ♪ oh tidings of comfort and joy ♪ from god our heavenly father ♪ the blessed angels sing ♪ and unto certain shepherds ♪ brought tidings of the same ♪ oh tidings of comfort and joy ♪ comfort and joy

♪ oh tidings of comfort and joy ♪ and ♪ ♪ ♪ oh tidings of comfort and joy ♪ comfort and joy ♪ comfort and joy ♪

♪ oh tidings of comfort and joy ♪ joy ♪

>> welcome back to west point holiday, i'm gretchen carlson. we are at the united states military academy at west point where we are going to bring you some of the amazing music of the west point band. ♪ ♪ >> throughout history cadets here have marched to the oldest beat on west point the field music group. >> the fife drum and bugle were important. bugles and drums to give out orders that the soldiers could hear over long distances. ♪

>> our field music group the hell cats continue to provide the same kind of support to the cadets as they always have done. they play the same music. they play the same instruments. >> the field musicians keep the cadets on the precise military schedule that makes up life here at west point. >> every day three times a day the entire corps of cadet performs to the spice and drums as they have done since the beginning of the academy. >> the whole corps has formation at the same time so all the regiments form up in their respective areas. >> at 12:050 the entire corps of cadets will form up. >> we take accountability and we reinforce that to our battalion. >> once all the announcements are said. we march in together from the mess hall as one as company. >> the cadets will march into the mess hall while the hell cats are playing. so there will be a marching theme for the day. and the corps cadets will march into the mess hall. all 4400 of us and we will all eat at the same time. and we have about 15 to 20

minutes to eat and logistics behind that is incredible how can you do that every single day. >> the mess hall staff does an amazing job and gets everything out to our tables where we eat family style. >> in addition to the daily formation, the hellcats provide the sound track for the official cadet parade in what is called path in review. ♪ >> the pass and review gives the opportunity for the commanding officer to dismiss the corps cadets and gives the superintendent the opportunity to inspect the corps cadets as well. we look for their drill, we look for their appearance and how they carry their rifles, left, right, and if they are in step, the uniforms they are wearing. >> west point is known for its uniforms. a lot of people know cadet gray. the cadet colors are black, gray, and gold. those three colors represent the components of gunpowder, charcoal and potassium nitrate and sulfur. >> the band plays the same

mellows that every cadet that has ever come through the academy will recognize. it represents an unbroken tradition that extends back before the academy to the beginning of the army and the nation. >> let's rejoin the west point holiday concert to see the hellcats and the west point band performing field music christmas classic. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [joy to the world] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

[ applause ] >> some amazing stuff. and we're going to have plenty more from the concert as west point holiday continues. but, first, here's the academy brass quintet performing holiday hymns. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ [hark the herald] ♪ ♪ ♪ [hark the herald angels sing] ♪

welcome back to west point holiday, i'm gretchen carlson. december is such a special time here when army officers get a well deserved break from studies and training. >> there is a lot that's on a cadet's schedule. they have to do a lot of work. there is a lot of demands on them. when the holidays come it gives them a reason to celebrate. >> a couple of weeks before christmas break or holiday break, everyone seems a bit more cheerful. and there is a little bit more hope in the air because you are going to go home soon. having a huge responsibility on our soldiers every day

can wear down on us. but definitely as we approach our break, as we approach the holidays, we have a chance to relax. >> family is very important to our cadets because that's the basis of their upbringing, their mom and dad and family that they come from. >> going home just makes it 10 times more worth it because you learn to appreciate what have you and being home with family, seeing people that you haven't gotten to see in months is just so wonderful. >> it's also a time to remember those that have gone before them and the thousands of americans celebrating the holidays far from home. >> soldiers who are deployed are away from family for as long as a year, 15 months. and when it comes time for holidays, it's a tough time for them. but they do know that their group, their squad, their platoon is their family when they are deployed. and it's going to be one of those times in their life that they will always remember where they were that particular christmas. >> across the west point

campus, the holiday spirit is palpable. >> the mood here changes. you can tell right about after thanksgiving. it seems like overnight the spirit has changed. >> you will wake up and suddenly there is just lights all over. gift wrapping paper all over. people seem to have more pep'. >> there is one december tradition that everybody looks forward to ♪ rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose. >> the annual christmas dinner in washington hall with entertainment by west point's' benny haven's band. >> christmas dinner is one of the great traditions for the cadets. >> i would say that it's the highlight of the year. >> christmases at west point are my favorite. the fourth class cadet decorate the tables. christmas trains to blow up santa dolls on top of tables. >> whenever the cadets enter

the mess hall they are surprised and taken aback how beautiful and festive everything is. >> we will all march into the mess hall and we will have a feast. the fourth class cadets and first class cadets will dance with one another during the dinner. which is very out of ordinary. >> the corps of cadets will sing the 12 days of christmas before being dismissed. that's really exciting because everybody is together. everybody is singing. it's really festive. and it's just a great experience. >> there are sing wings to the mess hall. and so half of each wing is assigned one of the days as they start stinging first half of the mess hall. it just moves. >> you see joy around the mess hall. >> it gets a little rowdy but it's a good time.

>> you can hear it growing lou louder and louder as it approaches your wing. it hits your wing you sing. >> it's a fun tradition. a great experience ♪ and a partridge in a pear tree. >> massive washington hall isn't even the most impressive structure on west point. one of the most awe inspiring college campuses of america first institution in the country the corps buildings of west point form imposing granite fortress symbolic of the strength and tenacity needed to lead the united states army into the future. among the many great structures is the cadet chapel where i'm standing right now. it resembles a mid evil castle overlooking the entire campus. >> it emphasizes some military aspects of it the windows look like slots and the top of the chapel looks

like battle men it fits into the military aspect. almost like the military cathedral. they started construction in 1900 and dedicated in 1909. >> each stained glass window pane is a memorial given in time in honor of fallen classmates. >> beginning with the class of taken from new testament martyrs and heroes. >> in the middle is the constantly burning candle radio minored we have soldiers deployed in harm's way. as long as soldiers are deployed that candle burns. >> home to the largest church organ. >> it has over 18,000 pipes. even organs outside church buildings there are very few that are larger than that organ. it's an honor for people who play organs come here and ask permission to play it. it's a fantastic instrument. it can produce sweet simple sounds.

beginning mellowed of silent night and produce some sounds like thunder for other pieces of music. >> and we'll be going back to the holiday concert in just a few minutes. but, first. it's in that beautiful setting that we are going to listen to the cadet string ren dution of silent night ♪ [silent]

[silent night] ♪ [silent night] ♪ [silent night] ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ you better watch out ♪ you better not cry ♪ you better not spout ♪ i'm telling you why ♪ santa claus is coming to town ♪

♪ >> welcome back to the west point holiday special. i'm gretchen carlson. that's the west point benny haven's band playing santa is coming to town. and, of course, when santa comes to town here he does it in a truly west point fashion. not on a sleigh pulled by reindeer but jumping out of an army helicopter ♪ he knows if you've been bad or go good ♪ so be good for goodness sake. >> santa, his trusty elf and the army golden knight pair shoot team decided to drop in on mikey stadium for delivery of a game ball for the football game. game day at the united states military academy is a big deal. and it starts long before kickoff. >> it's just not only the football game. 's it's the parade of corps cadets. the sky diving team will jump in during the parade and jump in during the

stadium. >> as the area around the stadiums fills with tailgaters the west point band is there ♪ up town funk you up. >> army bands have always provided newscast entertain soldiers and here that tradition is carried on by the benny havens band. they play popular music. the kind of music that our cadets will want to hear >> the hellcats join in the fun, stirring up the already lively crowd ♪ [cheers] >> home football games on game day are exciting times for the entire west point community. >> the entire corps of cadets will march up together in a football game. we are all in the same uniform and ready to cheer on the army team. all of the home football games the cadets will attend and it's a really good time. at a regular college, you go with like your one social group or you have a few friends. but here you kind of feel really united as a corps of cadets while you are at those games. >> past time, of course, the west point band takes the field ♪ ♪ >> many times they invite

the marching band from the other team to join them for a joint performance. ♪ ♪ let's rejoin the west point holiday concert as they perform marshmallow world. ♪ ♪ ♪ it's a marshmallow world in the winter ♪ when the snow comes to cover the ground ♪ it's the time for play ♪ it's a whipped cream day ♪ i wait for it all year round ♪ those are marshmallow clouds being friendly ♪ in the arms of the evergreen trees ♪ and the sun is red ♪ like a pumpkin head,

♪ it's shining so your nose won't freeze ♪ the world is your snow ball, see how it grows ♪ that's how it goes, whenever it snows ♪ the world is your snow ball just for a song, ♪ get out and roll it along ♪ it's a yum-yummy world made for sweet hearts, ♪ take a walk with your favorite guy ♪ it's a sugar date, what a spring is late ♪ in winter, it's a marshmallow world ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ it's a marshmallow world in the winter ♪ when the snow comes to cover the ground ♪ it's it's the time for play ♪ it's a whipped cream day ♪ i wait for it all year round ♪ those are marshmallow clouds being friendly ♪ in the arms of the evergreen trees ♪ and the sun is red like a pumpkin head ♪ it's shining so you nose won't freeze ♪ the the world is your snow ball see how it grows that's how it goes whenever it snows ♪ the world your snow ball just for a song ♪ get out and roll it along ♪ take a walk with your favorite guy ♪ it's a sugar ♪ it's a marshmallow world ♪ [cheers and applause]

>> we'll have much more from the west point band's holiday concert. stick around ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

>> welcome back to west point holiday special i'm gretchen carlson. we are at the united states military academy at west point where spend four extremely busy years studying and learning before becoming leaders in america's army. >> first thing do you is you go through a summer that transforms you from civilian to cadet. as a cadet you are kind of an apprentice in the profession of arms. developing the skills and capabilities militarily, physically, and incidentlike actually. >> just making it through fall semester through winter break at west point is nothing short of a triumph. for the freshman class known as pleads is first chance to take a breath as they report to post after graduation. r day was the start of rigorous schedule of training and education that will continue throughout their time here. >> this 9/11 generation is very unique group of young men and women. because they all recognize that our nation was attacked and they want to stand in the gap and do something

about it and our motto here is duted, honor, country. i would argue that these young men and women have arm eternalized what -- internalized what that means when they get here. they want to stand in the gap between the evil that's out there and what our nation stands for. >> an impressive group of young men and women indeed. let's now get back to the music of the west point band. we'll rejoin the west point holiday concert as the band performs sleigh ride. ♪ just hear those sleigh bells jing ling, ring-continuing-tingling, too ♪ come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you ♪ outside the snow is falling and friends are calling you hoo ♪ come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you

♪ giddy-up, gid -- up-giddy-up let's go ♪ our cheeks are nice and rose and comfy cozy are we ♪ we've snuggled up close together like birds of a feather should be ♪ let's take the road before us and sing a chorus or two ♪ come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you ♪ ♪ giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, let's go ♪ let's look at the show ♪ we're riding in a wonderland of snow ♪ giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up it's grand, just

holding your hand ♪ we're gliding along with a song of a wintry fairy land ♪ just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-continuing-tingling, too ♪ come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you ♪ outside the snow is falling, and friends are calling you hoo ♪ come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ red so red ♪.is set as it ♪ kiss me, did you miss me mistletoe ♪ i need the fireplace back ♪ until i get my drink eggnog that's in my cup ♪ our cheeks are nice and rose and comfy cozy are we ♪ we've snuggled up together like birds of a feather should be ♪ let's take that road before us and sing a chorus or two ♪ come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you ♪ ♪ giddy-up, giddy-up. [ applause ] >> there's more to come from here at west point but as we

take a quick break, we leave you with the west point can cadet glee club singing ♪ dashing through the snow ♪ with a one horse open sleigh ♪ fields we go laughing all the way ♪ bells on bob tail ring ♪ making spirits bright ♪ what fun it is to ride and sing ♪ a sleighing song tonight ♪ jingle bells ♪ jingle bells ♪ jingle all the way ♪ oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh ♪ jingle bells, jingle bells ♪ jingle all the way ♪ oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh ♪ ♪ jingle, bells, jingle

bells ♪ jingle all the way ♪ oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh ♪ jingle bells, jingle bells ♪ jingle all the way ♪ oh what fun it is to ride

sure, tv has evolved over the years. it's gotten squarer. brighter. bigger. thinner. even curvier. but what's next? for all binge watchers.

movie geeks. sports freaks. x1 from xfinity will change the way you experience tv. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> welcome back to west point holiday special, i'm gretchen carlson. let's go back inside now to eisenhower hall and rejoin the west point band for white christmas. ♪ ♪

♪ i'm dreaming of a white christmas ♪ just like the ones i used to know ♪ where the treetops glisten ♪ and children listen ♪ to hear the sleigh bells in the snow ♪ i'm dreaming of a white christmas ♪ with every christmas card

i write ♪ may your days be merry and bright ♪ and may all your christmases be white ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ i'm dreaming of a white christmas ♪ just like the ones i used to know ♪ where the treetops glisten ♪ and children listen ♪ to hear the sleigh bells in the snow ♪ ♪ i'm dreaming of a white

christmas ♪ with every christmas card i write ♪ may your days be member arey and bright ♪ -- be merry and bright ♪ and may all your christmases be white ♪ ♪ [ applause ]

>> that's all the time we have tonight. we would like to thank everyone at west point and especially the west point band for letting us share the holidays with them. from everyone at fox news, have a great holiday and good night. ♪ ♪ day. >> this year we saw widening wars, and terrorism overseas. [sirens] >> and violence that hit us at home. >> they yelled down the hall and said, there's a shooting downstairs. >> we saw images of agony. and scenes of hope. along with wild times in politics. >> we will have so much winning if i get elected, that you may get bored with winning. >> and don't worry. we didn't forget about the llamas. >> we seem to see all kinds of we'reness in new york, but not llamas. >> now some of the most