Support arrives in black and gold

NEW LONDON — When tragedy struck the New London community with news of the unexpected passing of first-grader Keegan Miller, New London, surrounding communities, and even strangers came together to show their support.

Within days, a Go Fund Me set up for funeral expenses surpassed the fundraising goal of $10,000 with over 250 donations.

The New London PTO canceled the family carnival, originally planned for Friday, May 5, as the community prepared to say goodbye to the young student at funeral services the same day.

To allow staff, students, and family to attend the services more easily, New London Schools dismissed at 11:45 a.m. that Friday.

As neighboring communities heard of the heartache that struck New London, they expressed their condolences and encouraged one another to wear black and gold to show their support.

“As we are sure many of you are aware, the New London school and community suffered a terrible loss last week, with the passing of first-grader Keegan Miller,” Danville Community School District wrote to their community. “To show our support, and that above the competitive rivalries and neighborly banter, we are all here for the same purpose, our children, we would like to encourage all staff and students to wear New London’s colors, black and gold, tomorrow Friday, May 5.”

“We can’t even begin to imagine what the family, friends, and faculty are feeling right now with the loss of Keegan, but please know we are thinking of you all on this difficult day,” Danville CSD shared with a photo of overflowing bleachers covered in black and gold. “We want you to know we care and wish you all a future of comfort, peace, and love.”

Danville’s Early Learning Center joined the school district in showing their support.

Students in Morning Sun, the town where Keegan was laid to rest, also wore their black and gold, Friday.

Holy Trinity Crusaders in Fort Madison also encouraged their school body to show their support with black and gold.

“HTC’s thoughts and prayers are with the family and community,” they shared. “To show our support, along with Danville Community School District, we encourage all staff and students to wear New London’s colors, black and gold, tomorrow Friday, May 5.”

Even during their Annual Social Emotional Learning day, Winfield-Mt. Union schools followed suit.

“ … we would like to show support to the New London community during this hard time,” WMU CSD said.

“As part of our face painting station, students and staff had black and yellow paw prints painted to show support to our neighboring school district New London as they suffered a terrible loss of a student last week,” WMU Elementary shared.

“From our district to yours, we offer our sympathies in the loss of young life from the New London School District,” Staff from Keokuk Community Schools expressed their condolences with a photo in black and gold. “We wear black and gold today to show our solidarity with you during this difficult time.”

The Saydel Eagles as far away as Des Moines even joined these schools in showing their support.

The Saydel Eagles’ football coach, Ben Fry grew up in New London and when he and his team heard about the loss of Keegan, they wanted to show their support.

“They wanted to participate because we know the meaning of community and togetherness,” Ben Fry shared on behalf of himself and the Saydel Eagles Football team.

“To the family of Keegan Miller, the New London Community School District and to the Community of New London, we wish to express our deepest sympathies for the loss of one of your young students,” the post continued. “Just know that it’s OK to not be OK for a while,” Fry encouraged the New London Community.

“To say I am humbled is an understatement,” Fry shared after seeing the support, Friday. “The students and staff here at Saydel, showed up in a huge way today to support a young man's family they have never met and show their support for my hometown. I was met today with Black and Gold everywhere.”

“To close out the day, I was met with a surprise on the field,” Fry said. “The players had taken it upon themselves to gather at the 50-yard line to join together in a prayer for Keegan's family. It was an incredibly emotional and humbling moment as these students chose to hang around after school on a Friday to empathize for a family they may never meet and a community that they may never visit.”

“Our family feels the love from all of the communities who decided to support us today,” Keegan’s cousin and New London Senior Chevy Mills said in response to the outpouring of kindness.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com