Matthew J August

West Point, 1997

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jimmy Madigan on May 7, 2004:

Matty and I met on the first day of Beast... scared, confused. We were in the same squad that summer and come fall, we were assigned to the D-2 Dragons. Three of my closest and most beloved friends came from my 2 years at WP... Nathan Hancock, Bryan Brickell and of course Matty August. I think of him often and keep the prayer card from the funeral, that I was honored to attend, on me always. A strange and somewhat cathartic emotion came over me while driving back to North Carolina from the funeral. Somewhere in the state of New Jersey on the Turnpike, I was overcome with a sense of peace and a somewhat wierd feeling that I would someday have a son. I really can't explain it, nor do I really want to try. I decided my son would be named after one hell of a guy and someone that I am truly proud to say was, and still is, one of my closest friends... Matthew. I have a multitude of stories to tell, but I will keep them in my heart... just where he resides. I know that Matty is up above, looking down on us all with his silly grin. Rest assured, we are all blessed by his being. In times of trouble, talk to Matty... he'll put you on the right path; trust me. God bless. -Jimmy Hog

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