Exceptional Life Celebration: Benjamin Darrell McKenzie

Nothing would be sufficient to prepare me for what I experienced. I already have the utmost admiration for my brother, still, over the course of one afternoon at West Point I felt like I knew him even better and yet not all. While we shared witty humor, academic rigor, and D1 athletics, his military career while esteemed, was a bit of an enigma to me.

The prestige of his career and assignments were seemingly at odds with spending time together, having missed holidays and family events secondary to military commitments. I am only beginning to understand the significance of the dedication and excellence it means to be a part of The United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point. Elite almost seems insignificant compared to the awesome responsibility of the men and women that accept the honor and duty to attend West Point.

As a part of the memorial weekend, we were offered a tour of the academy into spaces that we would otherwise have no access. Cadets made eye contact and extended cordial greetings with warmth and strength as we passed each other by. It made me feel welcome and not an intruder into their space. They were genuine. They did not know our backstory or why we were at West Point. Everywhere we went was steeped in excellence, tradition, and honor. The signage, memorials, plaques, statues, colors, flags, architecture all pointed to greatness. I was deeply moved by the commitment that they walk out on a daily basis. I was reminded that freedom we often take for granted as US citizens is not free. “ Duty, honor, country” was lived out. My admiration for my brother and the men and women that attend West Point sky-rocketed.

Later that same afternoon, we would assemble for the funeral procession onto West Point escorted by military police headed to Darrell’s memorial at the Old Cadet Chapel. As we drove by, cars stopped and people stood at attention while other’s saluted. They had no idea who was being memorialized. This is the honor they showed everyone. In a world where people can walk by one another without a glance, seemingly consumed by the ongoings of their mobile device, unaware of their personal significance, or misled by their sense of self-importance, I witnessed an intentional environment that was focused on each other and the whole. The commitment to country was evident.

In my last post, I wrote : “When I made the decision to be a Neuroscience major while playing D1 Volleyball at Colgate, also a part of the Patriot League, I received a healthy push back from my coaches and academic advisor.  What they didn’t know is that I had a brother that graduated from West Point with a degree in Environmental Engineering.   He ran and excelled at four years of track.  He set the benchmark high and I love a challenge.  If he could do it, I could do it.” These words do not hold up the weight in which I originally wrote them. My words spoken prior to Darrell’s memorial seem to lack significance for me in the present and are naive at best. There is no comparison. He was on another level altogether.

“... For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”

— ‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭48‬ ‭NKJV‬‬