Benjamin Tiffner

West Point, 2000

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Sunny Van Zyl on May 29, 2017:

Well seven years have passed since my last posting. It will be Memorial Day in 5 minutes. My eyes are tearing as they have so many times, especially these last few days as this time approaches. Your mom called the other day, and asked for prayer for your dad, as he was asked to speak of you at today's service in the church they are now attending. Saturday at mens prayer, husband said all were praying for him and the strength it would take to speak of you. We, who went through the last 9 1/2 years sharing the pain of your death with them, know the difficulty he will have had, to do this. Over the time, while he still served as our pastor, when occasionally mention of you from the pulpit happened, as his voice would start to break, with his right hand he would tap his fingers lightly on the pulpit as a way to contain his composure. There are two young Ben's sitting in our pews now. One is 5, the other between 2 and three. Little Ben, your sisters child, has your dark hair, and is a small image of your dad. Many others who knew you, have named their sons in honor of your memory. Rarely does one individual, so deeply and profoundly affect so many as you did. You left a lasting legacy, as a soldier, a friend, but most importantly as a man of God. Attending your funeral and burial at Arlington remains as vivid as yesterday. I took several new handkerchiefs as I knew they would be needed. I guess they are not the usual part of Special Forces dress. I had only one left for myself, as I handed the others to the best of the best, standing with tears flowing down their cheeks at the memory of you. Walking at Arlington to your earthly bodies final resting place, seeing thousands of white stones, knowing so many others had passed this way in deepest sorrow and deepest respect for those who lay there, is the best reason to honor today, in remembrance of those who lay down their life for us all. Each day as we raise our flag, and each evening as we take it down, we ask God to remember those prayers you said for those men under you and all others for every soldier, their families and your family. Until we meet again, we will remember you.

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