John Heinmiller

West Point, 2004

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Neil and Connie Hollenbeck on April 23, 2001:

To the family and friends of John Heinmiller: You have our deepest sympathy, although we know there is no way for us to take away your pain and little that can be said to ease or heal the grief you are feeling. Let God take you in His arms and cover you with His love. Know also that you have the love of all of the West Point families. We are including some of our favorite poems and hymns to remind us all of the sacrifices John was ready to make to defend our country and how very much his passing has grieved us all. America, the Beautiful O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain. America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea. O beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern impassion'd stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness. America! America! God men thine ev'ry flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law. O beautiful for heroes prov'd In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life. America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness, And ev'ry grain divine. O Beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years. Thine alabaster cities gleam, Undimmed by human tears. America! America! God shed his grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood, From sea to shining sea. God of Our Fathers (National Hymn) God of our fathers, whose almighty hand Leads forth in beauty all the starry band Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies: Our grateful songs before your throne arise. Your love divine has led us in the past; In this free land by you our lot is cast; Oh, be our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay; Your Word our law, your paths our chosen way. From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence Make your strong arm our ever sure defense. Your true religion in our hearts increase; Your bounteous goodness nourish us in peace. Refresh your people on their toilsome way; Lead us from night to never ending day; Fill all our lives with heaven born love and grace Until at last we meet before your face. ~Daniel C. Roberts In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. ~John McCrae (1872-1918). Taps "Fading light dims the sight, And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright. From afar drawing nigh -- Falls the night. "Day is done, gone the sun, From the lake, from the hills, from the sky. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh. "Then good night, peaceful night, Till the light of the dawn shineth bright, God is near, do not fear -- Friend, good night." ~Major General Daniel Butterfield Army of the Potomac, Civil War Requiem Aeternum Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, Et lux perpetua luceat eis. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord, And let perpetual light shine upon them. ~Latin Requiem Mass

admin