Kyle Nixon Honored in Flag Ceremony on Samford Lawn

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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