Day 155

I went with Dawn to Lakeview's graduation ceremony late this afternoon. I'm glad we went. The class valedictorian, Garv, mentioned Damian in his commencement address. I was touched. Dawn was, too. We didn't know that Garv was going to do this, and as far as I know, no one knew that we were coming. That said, it's safe to assume that this wasn't for our benefit. 

It makes me both proud and sad that Damian's legacy can be used like this – to inspire people to treat others better, to serve as an example of how to be kind to one another. It should be obvious why I would be proud of this, but my reason for being sad is probably less so. It's because it took Damian's dying to make this possible. If he were still alive, his name wouldn't have come up today. He would not have been mentioned at all. But he is gone and life goes on. Garv's, those of his fellow classmates, their families and friends, and mine and Dawn's.  

I think for many of those kids who graduated today, Damian's name will live with them for a long time. Maybe a life time. Even if they didn't know him, these newly minted Lakeview alumni will remember his name. It will forever be attached to their story of their last year of high school. One that starts out like this: "There was this kid at my school who died just before Christmas. His name was Damian." Where the story goes from there is up to them, but I do believe this story will be told. Hopefully many times over. 

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