Academy, family bid farewell to midshipman

Snowflakes whipped out of dark clouds Friday to swirl around a funeral procession silently winding through the Naval Academy campus.

Wrapped in gray blankets, two sisters of Midshipman 4th Class Frederick Henry Eissler walked behind his casket.

Midshipman Eissler, 20, wanted to graduate from the academy - like his father - and become a pilot to serve his country. He'll never have that chance.

He died Monday night after a five-day battle against bacterial meningitis.

"From this day forward, he will always be a midshipman. He will always be here," retired Cmdr. Frederick Eissler, a 1983 academy...