James J. Walton

West Point, 1989

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by David Brunnert on June 26, 2008:

My sympathies go out to Jim's family and all of his many friends. I was particularly moved by Frank Sturek's eulogy. Nobody was more "into" the West Point or Army "thing" than Jim and it doesn't surprise me to find out about the difficult role he ended up in. Jim was excedingly idealistic. I remember having a conversation with him when he pondered "Why don't people just do the right thing?" Great question. After reviewing the Cadet Prayer I couldn't help but think how passage after passage reflects the way he lived his life. We're all lucky to have known him. Cadet Prayer O God, our Father, Thou Searcher of Human hearts, help us to draw near to Thee in sincerity and truth. May our religion be filled with gladness and may our worship of Thee be natural. Strengthen and increase our admiration for honest dealing and clean thinking, and suffer not our hatred of hypocrisy and pretence ever to diminish. Encourage us in our endeavor to live above the common level of life. Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when the whole can be won. Endow us with courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble and worthy, that scorns to compromise with vice and injustice and knows no fear when truth and right are in jeopardy. Guard us against flippancy and irreverance in the sacred things of life. Grant us new ties of friendship and new opportunities of service. Kindle our hearts in fellowship with those of a cheerful countenance, and soften our hearts with sympathy for those who sorrow and suffer. Help us to maintain the honor of the Corps untarnished and unsullied and to show forth in our lives the ideals of West Point in doing our duty to Thee and to our Country. All of which we ask in the name of the Great Friend and Master of all. AMEN

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