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Adopted family reminds Appalachian of Sept. 11 tragedy |
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Tuesday, 12 September 2006 |
by LINDSAY CRAVEN
Lifestyles Editor
For one Appalachian State University family, the anniversary of Sept. 11 is a painful reminder of the death of a family member.
However, they are not a conventional Appalachian family, rather, they are adopted by the university.
“The
idea [of adopting a Sept. 11 family] originated from former Dean of
Students, Ms. Barbara Daye,” Jenny Koehn, Appalachian and the Community
Together Community service coordinator, said. “At the time, everyone
was searching for how they could help, what would the be the best thing
to do and everyone wanted to do something.”
“[Daye] felt that if we could connect with just one family, we might
feel as though we were collectively making a big difference,” Koehn
said.
Through a contact at TIME magazine, Koehn was referred to a human
resources worker for “Rescue 5,” a Staten Island memorial of five New
York Fire Fighters who lost their lives on Sept. 11.
“Rescue 5” provided Appalachian State with information on the Miller family.
Douglas C. Miller was a NYFD firefighter. He was 34 years old when he
died rescuing victims within the World Trade Center. He left behind his
wife, Laurie, and three daughters, Elizabeth, Rachel and Katie (6, 5
and 3 years old respectively at the time).
“We started by sending Laurie a letter expressing our wish to ‘adopt’
their family,” Koehn said. “We didn’t know what this would lead to, but
asked if she would be willing to see where it led. We talked with her
on the phone, and our relationship began.”
The relationship between Appalachian and the adopted family continued
as Laurie requested Koehn send her a video and pictures of
Appalachian’s campus.
Since the initial “adoption” of the Miller family, Appalachian State has tried to be supportive and encouraging to the family.
“They don’t rely on us for their livelihood or to pay their bills by
any means,” Koehn said. “We just try to bring continual bright spots
for them and remind them that they have an Appalachian family down
South who loves them.”
Koehn has made sure to keep up with the Miller’s birthdays, holidays
and also sending “just because” packages. Flowers are also sent on
Douglas’ birthday and near the Sept. 11 anniversary.
“We typically try to keep our gifts very local to Boone, Watauga
County, and of course, Appalachian,” Koehn said. “And yes, they all
proudly wear their national championship shirts.”
“Every year, starting in 2001, we’ve sent up a North Carolina Christmas
tree for the family, which just arrives on their doorstep a few weeks
before Christmas,” Koehn said. “They love it, and look forward to it
every year.”
Recently, Appalachian has sent back-to-school packages full of goods
collected from students in the residence halls, birthday packages were
sent to Katie and Rachel in May and June, and a back to school dance
sponsored by Greeks life raised $537 for the family when needs arise.
“I can never express how often I turn around in this house and find
another item from Appalachian State that is helpful and special in our
lives…from the magnets on the fridge to a letter opener for all my
drudgery mail, to my favorite silver earrings dangling from my lobes,
to the ASU windbreaker Katie used on her field trip yesterday, and so
much more,” Laurie wrote in a thank you letter to Appalachian. “What a
support system we have in you.”
The Millers have managed to make two trips to Boone, in the summer of
2002 and in the spring of 2004. They were able to visit Grandfather
Mountain and Tweetsie Railroad and went hiking.
They were also able to meet several members of Appalachian State through campus-wide receptions held on both visits.
“They loved it here,” Koehn said. “Elizabeth is only 11-years-old at
this point, but already tells her friends she’s coming to Appalachian
for college.”
Appalachian formed the Committee to Support the Miller Family, whose
goal will be to “keep the spirit of the family alive and well in the
hearts of the students, faculty and staff members.”
The committee will work toward informing new Appalachian State students
and community members about this family and also to create new ideas
for how to reach out to the Miller family in the future.
“I had heard about the family and I thought that it was great that
Appalachian had done something for this family, not because they were
in financial need but because they were in need of more family at that
time,” committee member Jon S. Geis said. “I am there because I am part
of club council and I am trying to be a liaison between the clubs and
the committee”
With more people involved all over campus, the committee can get a variety of things to send to the family, Geis said.
From Tuesday through Friday, a display about the family is set up in
Belk Library and Information Commons and in Plemmons Student Unions
across from Crossroads Coffee House.
A memorial card is available at the display in Plemmons Student Union for students to sign.
A permanent Sept. 11 memorial in honor of Douglas Miller can be viewed in the student union.
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