CARIBOU, Maine — The Caribou National Honor Society honored two fallen classmates during its March 15 induction ceremony.
The group posthumously inducted Zachary Gagnon, who lost a three-year battle with Ewing sarcoma at age 13, and Kacie Haney, who died last year in an automobile accident at age 17, as honorary members. Both would have been in this year’s graduating class.
Chapter president Alaina Quinlan spoke about the two, and their mothers accepted the NHS pins, were draped with the NHS emblem, and signed the society’s official registry along with the other inductees.
“Even when he fell ill, Zach always strived to spread kindness to others. His academic standing, his service to everyone around him, his infectious smile and unwavering kindness made Zach a clear candidate for the National Honor Society,” Quinlan said.
Peggy Gagnon, whose son Zachary Gagnon passed away at age 13 and would have been a senior this year, signed the National Honor Society registry as he was named an honorary inductee during the March 15 ceremony. (Chris Bouchard | Aroostook Republican & News)
“Kacie’s impact on her family, peers and community is undeniable. The joy she brought to everyone around her will live in all of our memories,” she said.
Members of Caribou High School’s Jobs for Maine Graduates program recently honored Gagnon and Haney by establishing a food pantry, dubbed the “Zach and Kacie Viking Pantry of Hope.”
When JMG took on the food pantry project, members of the NHS stepped in and helped to promote it, held a food drive and sought donations.
NHS adviser Valerie Waldemarson, who is also the school’s JMG master specialist, said the idea of an honorary NHS induction came about when students looked for ways to honor Haney and Gagnon. They started by decorating lockers in the senior hallway as a tribute, which led to establishing the pantry, and now the honorary induction.
“It just became very apparent that they were well deserving of being admitted, and that, had they lived long enough to apply, they likely would have been inducted. There were some heartfelt and emotional conversations, and it just felt right, and that they were clearly so deserving of this,” Waldemarson said.
She approached the NHS faculty council, who learned from the national NHS network that honorary memberships are possible. Haney’s and Gagnon’s academic records were examined and community members were interviewed about their character.
Waldemarson said their names will exist within the society’s official record.
Zachary’s mother, Peggy Gagnon, and Kacie’s mother, Julie Chamberlain, said the students’ efforts have been overwhelming.
“There’s no vocabulary word to describe the loss of a child,” said Gagnon. “I feel extremely grateful that my son was recognized and that Kacey was recognized. From the bottom of my heart, we’re very thankful.”
Gagnon said her son, even at a young age, persevered through chemotherapy and went about school and daily activities without hesitation.
“I want people to know that I’m truly grateful and appreciative and I think that this is necessary in light of such tragedies. And even though my son’s tragedy is different than Kacie’s, child loss is very similar. It’s the loss of milestones, the loss of events, the loss of grandchildren,” Gagnon said.
“Your future changes pretty fast when you lose a child. If something good can come in their memory though, I know my daughter would be overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity. She was all about giving back, as well as Peggy said about Zach. I’m very honored that they thought of them,” Chamberlain said.
Gagnon said the induction and pantry reflect what she would have wanted to do in his memory, and represent everything her son would have wanted. She described Zach as an “old soul” whose focus was on prayer and helping others, particularly homeless veterans.
The two mothers only met recently, but both said they became fast friends.
“There was a very quick connection. Maybe we never would have connected if the circumstances were different. …And when you’ve been through that, as a parent, you can see it in the other person’s face,” Chamberlain said.
Gagnon said it helps to share the unique grief that comes with losing a child.
“It’s an unspoken language. You can relate instantly. It’s like being on the edge of a cliff and falling, and no one being there to save you, but you still have to try and fight somehow,” she said.
They said that while others in the community don’t often bring up the loss of their children, possibly out of concern of bringing up tragic memories, the conversation helps keep their memories alive.
“We like to hear their names,” Chamberlain said. “I like people asking about how I’ve been since she’s been gone, because if they care enough to ask, they knew her.”
