Today is a day of remembrance at my house. Remembrance for a life cut short by a fire. A fire that cares nothing about politics or religion.
Today, my son has asked me to take him to the wake for his friend, Jon Barnes.
From the Hagerstown, MD, Herald Mail Newspaper:
Jonathan R. Barnes, 17
AUG. 19, 1988-DEC. 11, 2005
SHARPSBURG - Jonathan Ray Barnes, 17, of 3818 Mills Road, Sharpsburg, died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, from injuries sustained in a house fire in Keedysville.
Born Aug. 19, 1988, in Silver Spring, Md., he was the son of Robert and Carole Bern Barrett of Sharpsburg.
Jon was a senior at Boonsboro High School.
He loved to skateboard and had recently participated in and won a competition at New Covenant Fellowship Church in Fairplay, Md. Jon's dream was to one day have a skateboard facility in this area for all present and future skateboarders to use and enjoy.
He was known and loved by all as an exuberant, smiling, happy young man who could light up any room no matter where he was or what he was doing. Jon always carried a bright, loving smile on his face. He was an inspiration to all and will continue to be an inspiration in many different aspects of the lives of those who knew him. He will truly and sadly be missed by everyone forever.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by two sisters, Kaitlyn Marie Barrett and Brooke Lynn Barrett, both of Sharpsburg; his godmother, Crystal Lewis of Sharpsburg; maternal grandparents, C. Ronald Bern of North Carolina and Barbara and Edward Steiner of Florida; paternal grandparents, Pong and Larry Barrett of Gaithersburg, Md.; and his uncle, Kevin Bern of North Carolina.
Private services will be at the convenience of the family.
The family will receive friends Sunday, Dec. 18, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at Bast Funeral Home in Boonsboro.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Jon Ray Barnes Memorial Fund, c/o Hagerstown Trust Co., 207 N. Main St., Boonsboro, MD 21713.
When I wrote about this tragedy in an earlier post, one commentary asked if a memorial fund would be set up and if so, where to send gifts. That question is answered in the last line of the obituary.
I can't explain it, but for some reason, this death seems to have affected me more than it has my son. Maybe he is just better at concealing his emotions than I.
6 comments:
God bless....
My thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones. Mark, you are in my thoughts, too.
Godspeed.
No, he is still dazed, believe me your heart felt support for his friend is felt and appreciated as you take some of the weight. A girl I had a serious crush on died in a car accident while in HS, I know where your son is, be there for him. She was missing for two weeks before they found her, down a wooded hillside.
My prayers for you, your son and especially the family!
God Bless
I'll keep Jon's family in my prayers, Mark, as well as you and your son.
I know how hard this must be.
Hi, this is Jon's mom, and I just found this beautiful dedication to my son, and I want to thank you and all others for your prayers. I am missing him so badly right now, and as for your son, like I have told all the other kids, my home is open to them to talk or to come by and share memories and good times. I am here for you all as well, it actually helps me to deal with this loss myself. God Bless you all. Carole Barrett
Jon's death has touched me deeply, because he was a close friend of my daughter, and in being a friend to her, and the closeness they had with each other, the funny stories she has shared with me about him, I feel as if I also knew him. Everything I have heard has told what a loving friend he was to all the people who knew him, and how much he is missed. And she was right, his smile did light up anything or anyone it reached.
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