Senior ROTC Cadet, Kevin Graham, after he received his Airborne wings in the summer of 2002...seemed so happy and so proud!
Kevin died on his own battlefield. He was killed in action fighting in a civil war. He fought against adversaries that were as real to him as his casket is real to us. They were powerful adversaries. They took toll of his energies and endurance. They exhausted the last vestiges of his courage and strength. At last, these adversaries overwhelmed him, and it appeared he had lost the war. But did he? I see a host of victories he has won. For one thing, he has won our admiration because even if he lost the war, we give him credit for his bravery on the battlefield. And we give him credit for the courage and pride and hope that he used as his weapons as long as he could. We shall remember not his death but his daily victories gained through his kindness and thoughtfulness, his love for family and friends, animals, books, and music, for all things beautiful and honorable. We shall remember not his last day of defeat, but we shall remember the many days he was victorious over the overwhelming odds. We shall remember not the many years we thought he had left, but the intensity with which he lived the years he had. Only God knows what this child of his suffered in the silent skirmishes that took place in his soul. But our consolation is that God does know and He understands.
The Jeff and Kevin Graham Memorial Fund
was established following Kevin's death to provide education awareness of depression and suicide prevention at the University of Kentucky; later, we started an additional program at Cameron University. The QPR (Question, Persuade, Respond) program is the primary vehicle used to accomplish this. Many have contributed, and others have asked how they can help. Donations can be designated and sent to the Jeff and Kevin Graham Memorial Fund at either address below:
University of Kentucky
Cameron University
Office of VP for Student Affairs
ATTN: Larry Crouch (Jeff & Kevin Graham Memorial Fund)
112 Frazee Hall
Lexington, KY 40506-0031
(859) 257-1911
VP for University Advancement
ATTN: Bob Milner
2800 West Gore Blvd
Lawton, OK 73505-6377
(580) 581-2999
Thank you for helping us to help others. Our hope is that others will learn how to identify someone suffering from depression and to assist them in getting help. Our additional goal is to help prevent another person from taking their life.
Kevin with girlfriend Heather in San Pedro, Calif - 2000
Kevin was the one so many held on to for everything. When we needed someone to share with and cry with or laugh with, he was the one. He loved his brother Jeff more than himself and loved and adored his special, younger sister Melanie most of all. He never ever wanted to disappoint anyone. His special caring heart was just too big for this world. We miss you, Corky; every second of every minute of every hour of every day.
Jeff, Kevin, and Melanie at the Great Wall of China - Dec 2001
Christmas 2002 in Korea
Christmas 2002 in Korea
Home
Jeffrey
Kevin
Military
A Symbol of Hope!
Herein lies the deepest symbolic lesson of the butterfly, which asks us to accept the changes in our lives as casually as she does. The butterfly unquestioningly embraces the changes of its environment and its body.
This unwavering acceptance of its metamorphosis is also symbolic of faith. Here, the butterfly beckons us to keep our faith as we undergo transitions in our lives. The butterfly understands that our toiling, fretting, and anger are useless against the turning tides of nature – and asks us to recognize the same.
"If the end result is masses being educated, patterns being altered, and lives being saved, we will live with our sorrow for a better tomorrow."
Words Can Work: When Talking About Depression includes the story of General and Mrs. Mark Graham, whose 21-year-old son Kevin took his life. The Graham's story will help you recognize signs of depression in yourself, a friend, or a loved one.
"I knew our son was sad; I just didn't know he could die from being too sad."
NATIONAL CRISIS LINE 1-800-273-8255
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