Gregory Francis Zavota

West Point, 2005

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Heather Nelson on October 6, 2008:

Greg and I started dating our senior year in high school, we met working in a restaurant and I automatically fell in love with his personality. He made working fun and I always looked forward to seeing his smile. When we began dating Greg was already accepted to West Point and I was leaving in August for college in Virginia. We both liked a challenge and despite the distance we decided to stay together, we would give it our best. Greg left early that summer for basic training and we spent every moment before he left together, every moment that I am so lucky to be able to look back on. That summer I only spoke to him a few times but every single day I ran to the mailbox and each day I had a letter from Greg telling me all about his experiences in "beast". And every single day I wrote one back to him to let him know that I loved him and I missed him. I never missed writing for a day so he wouldn't ever have to wonder how much I cared. I will have that box of letters forever. We stayed together for 2 years of college, visiting back and forth when we could, but we were in such different environments that eventually it didn't work anymore. The breakup wounds took some time to heal and it took a little work, but we were able to maintain a friendship through the past few years. Since we knew each other so well he would call me for advice and just to talk and I would vent issues right back to him, it was a pretty amazing friendship. I feel so many emotions regarding Greg's death it is hard to verbalize exactly how I feel. He was such an amazing person, he had an incredible drive inside him to succeed. He was strong physically and emotionally, extremely intelligent and an all around wonderful person. Honesty was extremely important to Greg, and he was one of the most trustworthy people I have ever known. It was a very proud feeling to say that my boyfriend went to West Point, I loved watching people's reactions to Greg's achievements. In addition to knowing Greg so well I was also able to become very close with his parents and sister, who also will always hold such a special place in my memory. The Zavota's are so kind, they would take me to visit Greg in their RV and we would spend the weekend, they are such a wonderful family. I feel blessed to have been a part of their life and to have gotten to know them so well. Although I am devastated that Greg is no longer with us, I feel fortunate that he was able to be such a large part of my life. When I think of Greg it brings a smile to my face. I am so lucky to have spent those years with him, and those memories will always stay close to my heart. My thoughts and prayers stay with the family and the memory of Greg's smile that I fell in love with years ago will stay with me forever.

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