Anthony Miller

West Point, 2004

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Kreegs on February 4, 2002:

For a long time I have wrestled with my own faith. I've always wanted to believe, but some small part of me (that small part in a me that I hate to think about and try to repress, but remains there all the same) refused to allow myself to accept those things that I had never seen. Tonight that small part of me died, but like all cancers, the cure is sometimes as painful that the disease. A fellow cadet and friend of mine died of a heart attack tonight. His name was Anthony Miller, but we all called him Biggles. He was an all-star athlete, and the toughest man I had ever met in my life. I saw him run two miles in 12 minutes and 5 seconds with a gash in his leg that went to the bone just to ensure that he would pass a physical and would be able to play football. That's what he did the best - play football. I witnessed miracles on the field when Biggles went out there. He gave everything he had in him when he stepped onto the field, and that's how he lived his life off of the field. This young man loved to talk. He would talk to anyone about anything, and you would fall in love with his personality after the first couple of sentences. But for all those words, I never once heard Biggles say one negative thing about another human being. He was usually too busy trying to make himself a better person to spend time looking for the faults in others. Biggles wasn't perfect, but he was he always gave everything he had. I believe the best comment that can be given to any person is acknowledging that your life is better because he or she was in it. I can testify to that for myself, and I know that I am not alone. Biggles touched many. Those rare individuals that cross paths with us in life give us many different gifts. Some inspire us to drive on with the mission before us. Others allow us to accept ourselves for who we are. Biggles confirmed my faith and gave me the gift of eternity. That small part of me that strives to deny my Faith was cast aside by the overwhelming conviction that came to me when I heard of this young man's passing. There is no, nor will there ever be any doubt in my mind that Biggles is in Heaven. No scientist will ever develop the proof that will hold weight in my eyes. No novelist will ever write the great work that will scare me into doubting what I know to be true. People like Biggles go to Heaven, and their time on earth is meant to give faith to those they encounter. I feel no hesitation when I say that I have met my savior face-to-face, and his name is Anthony Miller. Witnessing how he spent his time here on earth alleviated any doubt in what will come after our time here is spent Anthony was a kid. He was an all-star college athlete, and was very likely to drafted by the NFL. He swore an oath to defend the values of this nation and those in need of help, and if asked, Anthony would have lead men into combat to uphold that oath. But Anthony died of a heart attack. There are few certainties in this world, but here is one: We all need to make the most of out time here. We all need to make the lives of those we meet better for having known us. Anthony's time was short, but he managed to give me eternity. I only fear that I'm not worthy of the gift Anthony has given me. If the cost of this gift was the life of this beautiful man, then I will never feel that I can do enough good in my life to repay what has been given up for me. That's why I'm writing this letter. If Anthony's life and death can move others, then they can help me to pass this gift on to even more people in need of help. Let the example of this young man make us better persons. Share this gift with me and share it with others. It's too great a gift to be bore by the few. I'm asking for your actions. The simple little actions that characterize our daily lives. Biggle's never really said or did anything so big that it immediately comes to mind, but he did a lot a little things that will be with me for the rest of my life. I hope we can all do the same. Anthony, I'll never forget.

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