The ultimate sacrifice.
Thomas Surdyke
From Daily Mail: A West Point cadet who died after rescuing a drowning swimmer off a Long Island beach was buried on the Fourth of July, which would have marked his 19th birthday.
Thomas Surdyke, who was a rising sophomore at the military academy, was remembered for upholding ‘the highest level of duty, honor, country’ during his funeral at West Point on Monday.
‘Whether irony or fate, his birth date foreshadowed a young man that held such patriotic pride and a heart of service that his life’s ambition was to become an officer in the United States Army,’ said a statement from his GoFundMe page, which has raised more than $38,000.
The 18-year-old from Festus, Missouri, donated his organs in a last act of selflessness after spending four days on life support.
Surdyke was on vacation in Southampton, New York on June 24 with another cadet when someone they had met on the beach that day got caught in a rip current. He jumped in to help, but swallowed seawater and had to be revived three times on his way to the hospital.
After suffering traumatic brain injuries due to a lack of oxygen, Surdyke’s mother announced he had died in a Facebook post four days later. The other swimmer he was trying to save survived.
On Monday, heartbroken friends and family gathered at the Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity to honor the young cadet as bikers from the Patriot Guard Riders stood with American flags to escort the hearse.
His friend Mekayla Korpinen wrote: ‘Today, I took part in the most beautiful celebration of life I have ever seen. The viewing, pinning, Mass, burial and vigil all spoke of Tom’s amazing love and sacrifice. In life he brought great joy and comfort and in death he has brought unity. The time I have spent with Tom will now be one of my greatest treasures. You have sharpened us as iron sharpens iron and you laid your life down for a stranger. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.’
Tom and his mother Janice
His mother Janice Surdyke explained that she wanted her son to rest at the United States Military Academy at West Point based on part of his admissions essay to the school.
It read: ‘I want to dedicate my life to serve and protect those who are not able to do so for themselves. A career in the military is not only something I desire, it is something I truly feel called to do.’
His grandfather Gary Surdyke described him to KSDK-TV in St. Louis as someone ‘with character, integrity and faith’.
His GoFundMe page, established to raise money for a scholarship fund, has raised more than $38,000.
A Memorial Mass for Surdyke will be held at Our Lady Church in his hometown of Festus next week.
Rest in peace young man.
DCG