FEDERALSBURG Lower than 4 months after the tragic demise of Lucas Nagel, his household is honoring his reminiscence and acknowledging their grief with a present to the group that first went to their neighbors and mates within the county.
Residents of Caroline County and people past its borders got here collectively to point out help for the Nagel household and deal with their very own loss.
The Nagels joined Kevin Hines, a widely known speaker and suicide survivor, for the dinner to recollect Lucas and assist the group find out about suicide prevention and therapy, in addition to the ache of PTSD, and supply hope for household survivors and emergency providers.
About 200 individuals attended the occasion at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, at Colonel Richardson Excessive College close to Federalsburg.
I by no means need to see one other household undergo this, Lucass father Milton mentioned.
The Carolina County Public Faculties group confirmed up in pressure. Milton Nagel just lately retired as an assistant principal and his spouse, Tina, is a retired secretary at CRHS.
On the time of his demise on December 31, 2022, Capt. Lucas Nagel, a deputy with the Caroline County Sheriff’s Workplace, was the favourite college useful resource officer for Colonel Richardson Center and Excessive Faculties. He additionally coached highschool baseball.
A local of Caroline County, he’s a 2013 graduate of CRHS and a veteran of the U.S. Military, serving six years within the workplace. He developed PTSD whereas serving in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
What each sheriff needs is somebody who grew up in the neighborhood, was raised in the neighborhood, has a terrific household, is a navy veteran and provides again to the group, Caroline County Sheriff Donnie Baker mentioned.
Baker mentioned the occasion is unquestionably wanted in the neighborhood. I believe it would give some type of peace in the neighborhood, some type of reminiscence.
Tolbert Rowe of Denton is president of Channel Marker and an in depth buddy of Milton and Tina, he mentioned. Lucass’ demise hit him arduous, he mentioned.
You possibly can’t even wrap your arms round Lucass demise, Rowe mentioned. And what Milton and Tina are doing and the best way they’ve dealt with that is completely wonderful.
At Lucass’ memorial service, held at CRHS, it turned abundantly clear that Milton and Tina had been really comforting the comforters; they had been therapists. It was wonderful, Rowe mentioned.
Channel Marker advocated for the occasion (as a result of) the group that Lucas touches is the sheriff’s (workplace), useful resource officers, the navy and a small rural group, Rowe mentioned, including that there isn’t any one in the neighborhood that Lucas’ passing has not touched.
Based in 1982, Channel Marker “gives psychological well being and wellness help for adults and youth with extreme psychological sickness in Caroline, Dorchester and Talbot counties,” in keeping with Channelmarker.org.
Channel Marker’s CEO, Cathy Cassell, and her husband, Marty, Channel Marker’s scientific director, turned shut mates with Hines, who contacted the Nagels in a prolonged Zoom assembly in January.
The intertwined relationships on this rural county run deep. This is only one instance of the Carolina County group coming collectively to help their group, mentioned Rick Barton of Denton. He’s chairman of the Carolina County Board of Training.
The entire household is so woven into this group that it is an actual assertion, Barton mentioned. This tragedy has affected the household greater than anybody must say, but it surely impacts so many various segments of our county, our group.
Cassell mentioned that Tina Nagel has been by my aspect since my sons had been born and has gotten me by way of a tear or two, not figuring out if I may deal with parenting and peanut allergy symptoms and all, and Milton is on the board of Channel Marker, and he’s a hell of a man, and he cares loads, and he cares about psychological well being, and he cared about it lengthy earlier than the rationale he was right here tonight.
Earlier than the occasion started, Hines and members of the Nagel household shaped a circle within the hallway outdoors the auditorium and mentioned a prayer.
Elizabeth Anthony, CCPS Director of Pupil Companies, welcomed the viewers. “We’re internet hosting this occasion tonight to develop conversations about suicide consciousness and prevention in our group,” she mentioned. Suicide is a tragedy. It is arduous to speak about. Nonetheless, this may be prevented.
“All of us on this room will most likely be attending this occasion tonight as a result of we need to be a part of an even bigger affect on suicide prevention,” Anthony mentioned. We’re a small however mighty group that may come collectively and make a distinction. Step one is constructing information and conversations, which is what this night will in the end be about.
Together with his animated type, well-timed moments of comedian aid, and rhetorical questions that elicited viewers participation, Hines managed to show a gut-wrenching topic right into a constructive, thought-provoking message of hope.
In keeping with his web site, Kevinhinesstory.com, Hines is a best-selling writer, worldwide public speaker and award-winning documentary filmmaker (he tried to take his personal life by leaping off the Golden Gate Bridge (2000). Many elements contributed to his miraculous survival, together with a sea lion that saved him afloat till the Coast Guard arrived.Kevin now travels the world sharing his story of hope, therapeutic and restoration whereas instructing individuals of all ages the artwork of well-being and the flexibility to outlive ache with true resilience.
Kevin believes within the energy of the human spirit and the truth that you will discover the flexibility to dwell mentally properly, in keeping with the web site. His mantra (is) Life is a present; that is why they name it the current. Cherish it all the time.
Milton Nagel, carrying an Its Okay To not be Okay T-shirt, joined the panel dialogue after Hines’ presentation.
Establishing a monument fund is the fitting factor, he mentioned. I do not need his demise to be only a statistic, and imagine it or not, speaking about it, speaking about it, is remedy.
Nagel mentioned the worst factor individuals can do is keep away from a grieving household. They weren’t hiding, he mentioned. Nobody is aware of what to say, however simply be current. And that is what will get us by way of all the things. We want one another, even when you do not know what to say.
Nagel mentioned individuals drove by their home and did not cease or publicly rotated and tried to keep away from the household. That is the worst. do not do this It would not matter what you say, simply say something.”
It is bullshit, it is simply bullshit, mentioned Milton Nagel. And our lives modified endlessly. However I firmly imagine that I attempt to discover the constructive in all the things. And that is why our mission now’s to lift consciousness and attempt to assist carry sources again to this group, in order that this does not occur once more.
On the finish of his hour-long speak, Hines requested everybody to take out their cell telephones. “As we started the second of silence collectively, we should finish it collectively now,” he mentioned.
He requested everybody to begin filming him or the viewers and shout in unison, “Be right here tomorrow!” After three rounds of more and more loud choruses, Hines concluded his speech by saying, “My mates, be right here tomorrow and each day after that. You’re valued, you’re beloved, you’re helpful and also you all matter.”
Should you or somebody is combating psychological well being points or suicidal ideas, get assist and inform somebody you are hurting. Name: Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 (US solely), Textual content: CNQR to 741741 Disaster Textual content Line (US solely) or go to www.suicide.org. You may as well go to Kevin Hines’ web site for sources.