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It's sad to hear of someone dying way before their time. I know what the chapter members must be going through. I had a fraternity brother who died from a drowning a semester after initiating in 1999. He was 19.
Every year since, the chapter has taken the pledges to the grave of our fallen brother. They do a small candle passing ceremony. It kind of exhibits how short life is, how you never know what is going to happen, and to live each day to its fullest.
Last week I was asked to attend this ceremony and give some words about who our brother was. It was pretty emotional for me. It was the first time I had been there. It was difficult to speak. It's out in the middle of no where in a small field away from any significant town. Not too many graves there. Brian had the largest headstone. His face, the logo of his favorite football team, and the letters of our great fraternity were all etched into the stone. It was a cool, moonless night, where you could see every star in the sky. One of the young undergrads said that when I was speaking of Brian, a shooting star flew above and behind me. I do not doubt it was Brian in the chapter eternal.
I hope this chapter mourns and then celebrates their brother and learns something from him.
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