Suicide in the trenches

I knew a simple soldier boy Who grinned at life in empty joy, Slept soundly through the lonesome dark, And whistled early with the lark........... In winter trenches, cowed and glum, With crumps and lice and lack of rum, He put a bullet through his brain. No one spoke of him again. S. Sassoon And so on Saturday amidst the hoopla and merriment, the cheering crowds and marching bands, the wearing of the Green and Gold and all things Notre Dame, I ask my friends to say two prayers....first and foremost for the family and friends of one Declan Sullivan, he is the young man tragically killed during a Notre Dame football practice in 2010...he was the team videographer that was sent to a 50 ft scaffolding during sixty mile an hour windstorm by the honorable Brian Kelly , head coach of Notre Dame ...in the aftermath of this murder the scoundrels of nd released a 100 page report explaining what happened and insisting it was just a tragic accident, although they did conclude that practice should have been moved indoors on this particular day..the Sullivan family ? They are a different breed, no lawsuit; although dozens of lawyers assured them they were entitled to millions, they turned their attention to their sons legacy, Mr Sullivan quit his job as an engineer and began volunteering with the horizon group, a charity that helps tutor and financially support kids from inner city Chicago, he is now the CFO of the charity, and they took initial donations and were able to create Declan’s kids...a small group of kids each year that received their attention....this year that group rose to Declan’s 90...amazing how some can turn tragedy into opportunities for others....you probably won’t see the Sullivan family on the pregame show as they shun the spotlight ( although kudos to both espn and sports illustrated for airing and writing stories about their charitable work......I did say 2 prayers didn’t I ? .....oh yes, say a prayer that the smug, arrogant, cocksucker that sent that boy to his death is haunted for eternity for his cowardice.....and while you’re at it, say a prayer that Clemson kicks their fuckin ass on the field. ...” You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye Who cheer when soldier lads march by, Sneak home and pray you'll never know The hell where youth and laughter go”..