Zachariah Miller

West Point, 2002

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by The Donnells on July 9, 2002:

I have to believe that God has a bigger and better plan for Zachariah Miller...that is the only way that I can deal with the death of this talented young man, who had already given so much, to so many, and who I had the pleasure of knowing so briefly. I was with my son when he received the word of the death of his classmate Zac Miller. I will never forget the shocked look on his face, how his body slumped, and how he told me in total disbelief that Zac had died while training for Ranger School. The Class of 2002, who only a month earlier had thrown their hats up in the air in joy, was now deeply saddened with the loss of a brother. I had a chance to meet Zac several times on my visits to West Point - he was so bright and cheerful - a real pleasure to be with. Zac was what every parent hopes their cadet will grow up to be - a real example of the best of America's children. So many accomplishments in his short 22 years, but yet so humble in everything he did. Zac spent some time with an old friend of mine in Montreal while he was on a spring skiing trip with my son and a few other cadets. I hesitated to ask them to put up five cadets for the night but told them these cadets will sleep anywhere. Zac, in fact, spent another night when his flight out of Montreal was cancelled. After the boys left, my friend called me and thanked me for introducing him to these West Point Cadets. He said his life became better the day those boys stepped over his threshold and into his life. He followed their progress right up to graduation, and in fact, was there to watch the Class of 2002 throw their hats in the air. He became a believer in West Point and the young men and women who attend. It was casual public relations and diplomacy at its best. When in times of sorrow and wondering why, I read the book "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran. These words I hope will comfort his parents and they have me. ************** "For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and see God unencumbered? And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance. And it is with this belief and this knowledge that I say, You are not enclosed within your bodies, not confined to houses or fields, That which is you dwells above the mountain and roves with the wind. Forget not that I shall come back to you. A little while, and my longing shall gather dust and foam for another body. A little while, a moment of rest upon the wind, and another women shall bear me. Farewell to you and the youth I have spent with you. It was but yesterday we met in a dream." ********* When you get the brush of wind across your face, know that it is Zac watching out for you, and also his classmates - The Class of 2002. With Love The Donnells

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