We Remember Scott

www.scottwilliamfisher.com

Our son Scott died by suicide. That is a fact. I say again, my beautiful, loving, caring, honorable son Scott, died by suicide. I dare speak it aloud because we must speak of it. We must prevent this disease its hold. It breeds in silence. Our son Scott was taken from us by suicide. I will speak of it. I will ask others to speak of it. It takes what we hold most dear and does not rest. Neither will I. Truth and love cannot abide the darkness. We must bring it into the light for all to see and prepare against. It needs to be said aloud, not whispered.

There is no glory in the act. It is never the solution. But, neither is there shame. You see this disease does not allow for choice. At the darkest moment, free will plays no part. Options, obvious to the rest of us, to the victim no longer exist. The act does not define Scott. The act was not his. Anyone who knows him knows this.

When Scott graduated from Deering, I told him, had I been given power over the universe, to form the stars to my pleasing, to have the sun rise and fall as I wished, to create my vision of the perfect son, the perfect man; I could have labored for an eternity and my creation would have been but a shadow of the gift I was given in him. How could I have formed that smile that could lift my heart? Where would I have found that laugh so infectious? How would I have added the courage to expose his inner beauty in music, art and writing with such dignity and grace? The gift I was given was beyond my ability to dream of. And so I say for all to hear, it is impossible that a prouder father has walked this earth.

So speak his name aloud, Scott, it is music to our ears. Speak his name, Scott, not with clenched throat, but with the honor and integrity by which he lived. Speak his name, Fish, not in despair, but with the humor, nobility, grace and beauty he dared to show us. Speak his name, Scott, not in trembling voice, but with the faith, hope, and love he shared with us.

Alone my life is but a thread easily blown and scattered by the wind. It has meaning only in how it is woven into other threads. Each of us threads, woven into others creates the beautiful tapestry of life. Scott’s life does not stand apart from us. He is part of us, you and I. We carry him with us. We carry him in our hearts. His life is an integral part of our tapestry. Intricately interwoven, one. So do not fear, look upon the tapestry and admire its beauty, smile when you can, cry when you must, but remember as you do, that Scott and Vera are alive and well and living in each of us. Love cannot die. It is immortal. I know in my heart of hearts we will meet again, some sunny day.

I love you my son.
Scott's Dad

The Vera Foundation: www.theverafoundation.org

Vera Lynn was the "Forces Sweetheart" in World War Two. She was one of Britain’s premier entertainers during the war and along with others kept up the spirits of the public and soldiers during Britain’s most difficult time known as the Blitz.

She released songs like "We'll Meet Again". She was also famous for her visits to troops in very dangerous places. She also started her own BBC radio show called "Sincerely Yours". During this show, Vera would read out messages from loved ones and she was seen as the link between the men fighting abroad and their wives, girl friends and families at home.

In their album "The Wall", in which a ficticous man Pink battles isolation and the fears of exposing his feelings to others, Pink Floyd asks us:

Does anybody here remember Vera Lynn?
Remember how she said,
That we would meet again,
Some sunny day.
Vera!
Vera!
What has become of you?
Does anybody else in here feel the way I do?

I remember, one of innumerable times in his life, Scott came to me with a question. Dad who was Vera Lynn? I explained I thought she was a singer in WWII that would sing for the soldiers and give them hope of returning home.

We later found out that when he married he wanted to name his daughter Vera. You see Scott’s questions were never superfluous. He was always thinking beyond what you thought he was asking. If he asked, the question had some deep meaning to him. I know him well. Naming his daughter Vera was his way of saying he would bring Vera back, that sunny days are always possible, that we all are one. We share the burden together. That we will all meet again.

The goals of The Vera Foundation are numerous:

• Our primary purpose will be to engage speakers to visit high schools and colleges to raise awareness about the risks to young teens regarding suicide.
• We will establish a perpetual scholarship fund in memory of Scott W. Fisher Jr.
This week we awarded the first two Scott W. Fisher Jr. Memorial Scholarships to two very deserving young people. Jeannette Merrill and Sam Turner.
• We will honor Scott's passions in life with donations of instruments and lessons in music, writing, art, and athletics that the individuals may otherwise be unable to afford.