Mitchel A. Tisdell

West Point, 2009

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Steve Burdick on January 25, 2008:

Tisdell Family, I am so sorry to hear of this tragic event. Mitch was an amazing young man! His Passion, strong will, and leadership abilities were in the top 1% of students I've met in my 27 year career as a coach and educator. At 50 years old I still don't "get" why events like this one occur. I do know from my converstions with Mitch that he intended to make a dramatic impact on the many people he intended to affect in his service and leadership to our country. My prayer is that somehow his goal to affect many will still occur. As you hear the stories of how his presence affected so many, I hope you will be encouraged that somehow even in his loss, many lives will be impacted and changed in the positive way he intended. I also know that the deep rip in your hearts doesn't feel like it will ever get any better. I pray that as you walk or crawl through this, that you will be able to feel God's mercy and love for you in some tangible way. In horrific loss, the only breath I can even take comes from my knowledge that although I can not understand how or why any of this fits together or makes sence, somehow (because God is good) it will and it will in ways I cannot even imagine in my dispair. I also know from my experience that if you allow God to walk or crawl with you, He will. Your family has been and will be im my prayers for a long time! With great respect to you and to the amazing Man Mitch had already become, Steve Burdick Wrestling Coach Bear Creek High School

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