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The following article has been reprinted here, with permission of the editor, from the September 2007 edition of The Chatham Press Meghan Kraham If you live in Chatham, you may know the story of
Meghan Kraham, a vivacious young woman who died on August 18, 2007,
of a rare cancer at age 21. The sadness her family feels is no heavier than the sadness felt by the Tassinari family in Spencertown who lost their wonderful son Ben, or that of Julia Pomeroy and John Gregory on the passing of Raif Pomeroy, Julia’s brother – or any of the hundreds of families here who have suffered loss and intense grief in past years. In fact, one of Meghan’s care givers at Columbia Memorial Hospital and a great friend of the family was Cathy French, mother of Eric and Sean and wife of Mark. Their son and Eric’s brother Sean was taken suddenly in a car accident. But we keep his image and goodness alive within us – and what he stood for. Sean stood for everything that is right and solid and true. And that is also what Meghan stood for. She was all about good works. She was an indefatigable advocate of responsible behaviors in youth. She was a scholar, an athlete, an activist. She was a proud and ardent supporter of the athletic endeavors of her sisters Sarah and Kathryn, and her brother Zach. Her greatest contribution to her community was her activism in causes that supported health and wellness. She was a prime mover in the growth of the Chatham chapter of SADD, Students Against Destructive Decisions. She was a student organizer of Sean’s Run, a memorial run/walk supporting a scholarship fund for students in the region’s high schools. Meghan was also involved with Locks for Love, the Relay for Life and was a consistent donor to local blood banks. She is my niece. But I write as the co-publisher of this paper. I asked my partner her thoughts on this personal indulgence and her response was simple and true: “John and Michele Kraham’s family is the quintessential American family, bound by their love, their faith and their belief in their fellow man and neighbors.” And in their belief that we awake eternally after a brief sleep. they, and especially Meghan, are emblematic of the solid spirit that runs through us here. The picture of that family at the top of the page is probably like one you have on your mantle, or bedside table. The picture of Meghan with the love of her life, Jon Prack, an American Marine and a solid guy throughout all of this, is like many pictures you have at home. The bright, vibrant photos of Meghan with siblings, out and about, are just like yours. And that is what Meghan will always be – yours. Chatham embraced the Kraham family during Meghan’s illness. And now, we embrace you. The family would like to thank the community whose outpouring of love and support gave strength to them throughout this ordeal. We will make it. All of us here in Chatham and our surrounding hamlets. We will make it. We will endure. We will remember. Life will go on. – Rich Kraham, Editor, The Chatham Press |