Kevin, James and I chose to get memorial tattoos several months ago; we all chose crosses. I just realized I hadn't posted a picture of them here in this blog, so here it is. 

All three were done by Jevon at Lou's Tattoos in Mulberry, Fla. I think he did an amazing job.

 

James's classmates in the Polk County Transition Program planed a tree in Kyle's memory last week outside of James' home at Noah's Nest.

Charlene Schultz, James' Transition Program teacher, shared with me: "The tree planting went well.  We planted the tree, then Cary said, "Today we dedicate this tree in memory of Kyle Nixon"; Shelbie said that we all want to support James and his family during this time; Rachael said she is going to paint a picture for James to take with him to Arkansas; Shaun said he will carve a plaque for the tree; Eddie led us all in singing Amazing Grace; De'Shayla said she would like to get a picture of the family and put it on a Tshirt for James; Aime started a prayer, others said a prayer, and Tiona ended the prayer; and I helped plant the tree while Kayline took pictures."

Many thanks to all who have helped James honor his brother in this way.

I woke up this morning thinking I should go wake Kyle up for graduation today, since so many of us need to get showers before we head over to the Auburn Arena. Then I realized it was just a dream (a very vivid dream).

We're still going to graduation, but James will accept Kyle's diploma (Bachelor of Arts in Political Science) for him.

Auburn University has done so many things right for our family through this whole ordeal, and for this, I say "War Eagle."

Taken on the front porch of Beauvoir, the last home of Jefferson Davis. Kevin and I took Kyle and James here the Thanksgiving before Hurricane Katrina. Now I'm here with Sam & Kat.

Jevon Foskey from Lou's National Tattoos in Mulberry helped me design this memorial tattoo,

The cross is a Celtic cross, with some stormy clouds behind it.

The flowers are from photos I took here in Florida. 

• The hibiscus photo was taken on the Southeastern University campus in Lakeland.
• The violet photo was taken at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales. (Note that the violet has four petals on the bottom, representing our four children, and two above, representing Kevin and me.)

The Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." This verse is especially poignant because it was the verse of the day sent to Kevin's Android phone on September 29; Kevin read that verse just before calling the hospital to learn that Kyle had passed away suddenly.

With this tattoo, I get the strong feeling that Kyle's hand is on my shoulder. It's comforting.

From the Godspell playbill:

The Nixon Family would like to thank the Southeastern University Theatre for dedicating this production of Godspell to our son Kyle Nixon, who passed away unexpectedly on September 29, 2011. Over the past month or so, we have spent a lot of time remembering the times we spent together as a family.

Godspell has long been the favorite musical of our family, dating back to when I volunteered with the Auburn University Theatre Department's Godspell production when I was in college. I was almost giddy when I learned that our SEU students would be putting Godspell on this fall. Over the years, our family has sought out Godspell across the country, from Wisconsin to Florida and many spots in between. From church and high school productions to off-Broadway ones, we have loved them all. We have probably seen more than 20 Godspell productions, each one different from the others in many ways.

One time in church, when Kyle was quite young, the pastor was preaching on the Sermon on the Mount. Kyle leaned over and whispered to me, "Hey Mom, that's in Godspell!" It became a standard for family to signal quietly to each other when we heard something in church that was one of the themes in Godspell; that tradition continues today with a knowing nod or wink.

Kyle wasn't a singer, a dancer or a musician, but he always supported our family's love of Godspell. When we played the soundtrack in the car, from the corner of my eye, I would see his silently singing along with every word to every song (except for "All for the Best," which tended to trip all of us up.)

At 22, Kyle was a senior at Auburn University majoring in Political Science. His brother James (21), who is often seen on the Southeastern University campus as part of the Polk County Transition Program, will walk across the stage at Auburn Fall 2011 graduation and accept Kyle's diploma, with brother Sam (13) and sister Kat (12) at his side.

We know that Kyle's in heaven now, watching over us. And during this SEU production of Godspell, maybe he'll be the first in our family to finally be able to sing all the words to "All for the Best" without tripping up.

Our family feels blessed to be a part of this Southeastern University community, and we thank you for dedicating Godspell to Kyle Nixon.

 

Barbara B. Nixon, C.L.P., M.A.

Interim Chair, Department of Communication

 

 

 

We received this framed, matted certificate of attendance for Kyle this week.

by  Sarah Elizabeth Garrett on October 19, 2011 at 2:00pm (on the Auburn Family Social Network)

 

Kyle Nixon, a 22-year-old senior at Auburn University in political science and a Tau Kappa Epsilon brother, died early Sept. 29, 2011, after collapsing at a friend’s apartment off campus. As part of a military family, with his father, two uncles and both grandfathers having served in the military, Kyle was honored with the raising and lowering of the flag over Samford Lawn on Oct. 12, 2011.

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Nixon was born in Fort Benning, Ga., on June 11, 1989. Had he waited until his due date six weeks later, he would have been born in Fort Campbell, Ky. 

“I was on active duty for over seven years as an Infantryman, including being a Company Commander in the 101st Airborne Division during the Gulf War,” Kyle’s father Kevin said. 

Barbara Nixon, Kyle's mother, remembers taking Kyle to the airfield at Fort Campbell.

“I remember going to the airfield at Fort Campbell to meet his dad after returning from the Gulf War when Kyle was two,” Barbara said. “He was wearing overalls so I could grab him quickly if he tried to run off.” 

Kyle, born to a long line of military members, moved across the country throughout his childhood. 

“Kyle had a super-thick Southern accent when we got to Wisconsin when he was in kindergarten, which he quickly lost,” Barbara said.

 

The flag ceremony meant a lot to his family, especially his father.

“The flag is a rallying sight for everyone in the military,” Kevin said. “Seeing a flag flown in his memory will focus us on the positive impact he had during his time at Auburn and before. The lowering of the flag with accompanying Taps signifies the closing chapter of his life on this earth.”

Cadets 4th Class Will Gaskill and Johnathan Allen did not know Kyle personally. However, lowering the flag in his honor told them something about Kyle’s character. 

“I think it definitely says he was a person of integrity and that he was well-liked by his peers,” said Allen.

For Gaskill, the flag ceremony for Kyle represented something even more.

“I definitely think that it shows the Auburn family as a whole. Even though I didn’t know him, he was a part of the Auburn family. Being able to lower the flag in his name is a respect and an honor to show that we are together as a nation and together as an Auburn family,” Gaskill said. 

The Nixon family plans to hang the flag in their home as another way to remember Kyle. They will also attend the graduation ceremony this December. 

“Kyle’s brother James, who has a form of autism, will walk across the stage to accept Kyle’s bachelor’s degree diploma on Kyle’s behalf.”

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