William Gerard Jamieson Jr, Neighbor

Greetings,

The following information is about a Foundation we are in the process of developing here in Milford that will hopefully have a direct impact on all of our community. And here is why…

Tragically, my family lost my 22 year old brother Alexander Jordan Jamieson to Suicide on May 1st of this year. My brother had a long battle with depression and fought that battle largely right here in Milford. He attended Milford Public Schools and sought treatment at Bridges and through other resources available in town.

My brother had always said he didn’t have very many friends. Some part of his depression made him feel that way. He was an amazing guitarist and vocalist in his local band, even got to play his dreams out on the stage at Toads a few times. He recently wrote a few songs that had the makings to be hit mainstream songs, something he would have hated of course ha-ha. Alex was also a skateboarder with some impressive talent. He spent many hours at the skate park in Milford. I have heard many stories of Alex helping other skaters, some much younger, learn new tricks or master old ones while at the park. Alex always tried to friend the kids that no one else paid attention to and make them feel better about themselves. He was a caring soul.

I received a phone call the day of Alex’s service from one of his friends. The friend told me they were expecting close to a thousand people at the service. I was stunned and thought how; he said he had no friends.. We had planned for an average service, thinking we might see 100 or so faces between friends and family. Well, the friend that called was right. A line developed out the back of the funeral home and extended down the Milford Green from about 4:45 pm until almost 8:30pm.

The night of Alex’s service, someone posted on social media, “Is there a concert or something on the green tonight”. This was of course because of the attire of the friends that were waiting in this incredible line to pay respects to their friend, their brother. They came dressed as the family requested, “How Alex would want you to”. It was a sea of Green Day and other bands shirts. I realized something as I stood and hugged each person after they said their goodbye. I asked each of them how they had met my brother. And oh so many of them said similar things, “How do I get through this without him to help me through” and “Alex was always there for me, who is gonna help me through this”. They also told me countless stories of Alex helping them, through their own tragedies, no matter how big or small, of helping them when no one else was their friend. And they told me how they tried to help him, so many therapists and teachers, counselors and peers said the same. That he was kind, that they wished they could have done more. And that is when I realized. We can’t let Alex’s mission to help people end with his passing.

So, now I have started a foundation in my brother’s name. To fight depression through music. Our goal is to raise funds and use those funds to provide instruments and musical lessons to children in the community that would not otherwise have access to them. In particular, children that are at

risk for or known to be battling depression and other emotional health battles. This is going to start

in the community of Milford and hopefully grow from there. We have incredible support already; have spoken with the Milford Board of Education, Mayor Blake, various local Bands such as The Navels and Mystic Seahorse and other key players that can help this cause grow. We will even soon be featured on a local radio station to discuss the foundation. We have established as a corporation with the State and we submitted for our official 501(c)(3) recognition on August 20, 2019.

Milford Parks and Recreation commission has voted unanimously to rename the Milford Skate Park after Alex. The Alexander Jordan Jamieson Memorial Skate Park. This was the result of a Change.Org petition one of his friends started that quickly grew to 3,000+ signatures. It was also the result of years of volunteering and participation in recreation and other community events by my parents, Debbie & Gerard Jamieson of Milford, and all of our family. But we had one request, to make the dedication and the Skate Park about not only Alex, but about Suicide Prevention. To make it about the battle against depression that is plaguing our society. We will have signage with the 24/7 suicide hotline phone number. We also want to use this as an opportunity to encourage those that use the park to keep the activities and graffiti family friendly. To remind them that this is their park - the skateboarders - to come and enjoy, to forget the stresses of life and just skate. But to remember, there are some little future skaters out there whose parent(s) would love to be able to bring them to the park without exposing them to vulgarity and other things ahead of their age bracket. Not that we will be able to stop all of it, but I think we can help curb a lot of it between his group and the signage we intend to have at the park.

We are currently working on a dedication event at the skate park. The date of the event is October 12, 2019 (with a rain date of October 19, 2019). We plan to have live music, the Suicide prevention representatives, food trucks, merchandise tent and make this the Day that we spread the word of our foundation and our Fight to end the Stigma around depression and start a conversation in town. We are also invited to set up a table at the event coming up in Milford, Walks with Buddy. These are 2 big events in the next few months in Milford to raise awareness in our community of just how bad the Suicide and Depression issues are becoming. We are asking for your support. We plan to have a raffle at each event and would be grateful for any contribution you and your business would be willing to make.

As the President of this Foundation, I have realized that I will no longer just help people through my career as a Captain and EMT with my Fire Department, but through our non-profit organization. We want to make every effort to Un-STIGMA the conversation around depression and suicide. And we cannot accomplish this dream without the support of our community.

Change has to start somewhere, and in my opinion there is no better place than Milford to start this change. I have lost too many to this exact illness, this disease called Depression. There are far too many familiar names from Milford where I grew up that have left us too soon as a result of depression. I am hoping we can take a stand and start something big here, but it will not be possible without everyone’s help.

Thank You and Best Wishes,

William G. Jamieson Jr.

President