Adam Paulson Snyder

West Point, 2004

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Bobby Milner on January 3, 2008:

Matthew 5:14-16 14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. We just finished our Christmas Production and one of the songs in it was “Light of Hope”. I want to read you the words to part of one of the verses in that song. It says, “What can one candle do in a world so full of hatred? We would be amazed how a caring heart could change it.” To me Adam was a true example of what one candle can do. He was an example of being a true light for God. He changed lives He touch hearts He made a difference How don’t know if this room represents the people Adam had an impact on; however, I do know for a fact that Adam touched a lot of lives in this room. Some of you are here to day to pay respect for a man who gave his life for our nation and then some of you are here because Adam actually touched your heart. I know he touched my families heart. He seemed to be the kind of person that just invested his life in yours. When he came home for visits, he would always come by our house, but he seemed to be able to go to everyone’s house. I don’t guess he ever slept when was here. When Adam was accepted at West Point, Kim and Danielle taught him to swim laps in our pool. There has to be some advantage to having a 75 foot pool in your backyard, and this has been ours. We’ve been able to use that pool to teach many people to swim. Adam could already swim, but as Danielle said, “It wasn’t pretty.” He was trying to get in shape for West Point; he was running in his new boots, and swimming was on his list of things to conquer. And that was always his attitude. No matter how hard, or how ridiculous he felt, he just kept trying – it was a never give up attitude. The laps eventually became easier, a little less awkward, and off he went to West Point. When he came home for that first break, one of the things he wanted to show us was how much he had improved his swimming. As he put it, "I wasn’t the worst one in the pool." And one year he even signed up to swim the Hudson River to raise money for charity with a bunch of cadets. But Adam was used to a pool, and a river is a little different. The water is flowing, for one thing, and it’s very muddy – especially the Hudson. So half way across he was so sick he had to be picked up by a rescue boat. That didn’t end it, though. His never give up attitude kicked in, and he made them put him back in the water to finish the swim. He did it, maybe it wasn’t the prettiest swim across, but he finished the race. I’ve always enjoyed Adam's since of humor. Robert and Katie Cook are here from Columbus, Ga. and Adam was part of their lives too like he was to so many others. Robert and Donna sent Adam an invitation to their daughter Emily's wedding. They just received a response from Adam on Monday, December 10th. He wrote it on the 17th of November and it was postmarked the 21st of November. I just want to read it to you. Mr. and Mrs. Cook, Thank you for sending me Emily and Randy's wedding invitation. Unfortunately, President Bush has me on a great mission against terror and I cannot attend. Please send me an email on how I can get them a wedding gift. Adam Snyder@hotmail.com. God bless, Adam Snyder. Where the stamp was supposed to go he wrote Free mail, Go Gators On the other side of the envelope where the flap is he wrote Axis of Evil and listed: Iran, N. Korea, Auburn, LSU, Georgia You could always count on Adam to give you a smile and what a smile he had. Adam Snyder was the kind of guy that a Father of three girls would want his girls to find. Kim, Danielle, Michelle, Katelyn and I love Adam Snyder and we will miss him greatly. You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand times And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry Is how long must I wait to be with you Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same Cause I'm still here so far away from home In Christ, there are no goodbyes And in Christ, there is no end So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have To see you again And I close my eyes and I see your face If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow I've never been more homesick than now

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