This past Sunday my wife and I were notified of the untimely death of one of her very young relatives, Aaron Harris of Denham Springs La. As we attended the events surrounding his funeral I could not help but see how big a fan of LSU Aaron was as evidenced by the number of photographs with something about LSU in them. Aaron's family has deep and very loyal ties to LSU sports. Aaron's grandfather and grandmother, Larry and Grace Harris, my wife's uncle and aunt, just buried their second grandson, both victims of car accidents that occurred within 5 months of each other. As a grandparent myself, I know this is not an event grandparents ever envision themselves being a part of. Aaron's father Clint, just buried his lifetime hunting and fishing partner, and most of all, his only son. I watched his mother Carla, confined to a wheel chair in the prime of her life, bury her "heart" as she called Aaron. The grief was overwhelming for everyone as his pallbearers placed his casket over his grave. My own son and I last visited Tiger Stadium using longtime seats owned by Clint and Aaron. Aaron's uncle Justin, was a DSHS baseball teammate and classmate of Ben McDonald. Ben is building a new home literally down the street (Harris Road) from the house Aaron lived in. Aaron's cousin Jeff Harris, now a Dr., was a member of 2 LSU baseball teams that won National Championships. I'm not really sure if Aaron's plans included college but I do know he loved LSU. I was constantly reminded of it as I looked at the picture that sat near his casket. A scholarship fund has been set up in the memory of these 4 young men. How ironic would it be that someone else attended LSU because of them. I don't want anyone that reads this missive to misconstrue my intent. While the investigation is ongoing, I'm sure that the circumstances that led to the death's of these 4 young men are issue's that any parent and grandparent hopes and prays never involve those they love. I witnessed hundreds of young teenagers pay their last respects to their friends and classmates. I also don't want to denigrate anyone on this forum that has lost a loved one in similar circumstances. My only hope is perhaps "one of your own" will read this and remember this event if the day should ever come that they are in a situation similar to this one and they have the opportunity to make a decision that leads to a better outcome. I cannot begin to describe the feelings one has when you watch parents lean over a casket to say goodbye to child taken in such circumtsances. I'm sure that from now on all the LSU games that Aaron sees will be victories, the offense will score on every drive, and the defense nevers sees a touchdown scored on them again. RIP, young Aaron. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/11102071.html?index=1&c=y :geaux:
It's hard enough to bury a parent, I lost my mother at the first of the year, a parent should never have to bury their child irregardless the circumstances. It's probably one of my greatest fears, losing one of my kids. Even in death though they will give something back.
I live off of Hammack Rd, not a stone's throw away from the scene of the accident, and I tell ya, the support those young men received at the scene would bring anyone to tears. I was on my way home from work Monday late afternoon and the amount of friends and classmates that showed up at the scene to erect a memorial and pay their respects was unbelievable! Those young men will truly be missed. On Sunday morning my parents came to my home (we were headed to Audubon Zoo) and all my mother could do was cry. She feels terrible for the parents that have to endure something like this. RIP, guys!
