Tyler Edward Parten

West Point, 2007

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Joe Paladino on March 15, 2013:

This morning started out like every morning usually does. I blast Pandora radio from my iPhone while I get ready for work. Alanis Morissette's renowned song "Ironic" came on and just like every time I hear this classic song, I immediately think of Tyler. Early in his cadet career during a West Point Summer Training Talent Show, Tyler displayed his creative genius by recreating the lyrics of "Ironic" with all of the ironies that New Cadets face! It was at this time that Tyler initially stamped his legacy on the Class of 2007 as the 'Weird Al with brains, muscles and a million dollar smile.' Anytime I think of Tyler, I'm reminded of how special of a man he was to anyone who had the honor to know him. I was lucky to be in the same Company as Tyler during our first year at the Academy. With that, another fond memory of Tyler comes to mind during Organization Week (the week before the first day of class begins) of our Plebe year. As you can imagine, the week was intense with freshly promoted Cadets running up and down stairs with books, laptops, trunks, and so forth...complete chaos like usual for Plebes with us all getting yelled at! With all the hustle, bustle, and STRESS that we as Plebes had going on, suddenly out of the blue were the beautiful sounds of an acoustic guitar. As I was about to run back up the stairs to my new room, I looked up to see Tyler basically hanging out of his window on the third floor playing his guitar and singing. For the first time during that week, a big smile came across my face. Tyler had that affect on people his whole life. Surely he got hazed quite a bit from the upperclassmen who continued treating us like second-class citizens, but even they appreciated Tyler's love of life and passion for music and people. I remember thanking him for playing that day as soon as he got his room situated, even knowing the fact that he'd more than likely get in trouble. He cracked up laughing and said, "I just couldn't let that guitar just sit there...I missed it!" From that point on, as the year progressed and the heat was lifted a little bit from the upper-class, Tyler would play his guitar and sing near his window. It always had this calming effect on me and helped me really get through that first year. Even now when life seems difficult and especially at times when I'm down and missing him, I look up to the sky and imagine him hanging out of a window in heaven playing his guitar and singing like the angel he truly is. In a surreal fashion I even start to hear his music and beautiful voice in my mind so vividly. Tyler, I know you're looking down and singing to us still. Love you like a brother and I look forward to seeing you again someday. God Bless! -Joe Paladino Class of 2007

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