Jeremy Redmon, an editor and journalist, recounts the deeply personal experience of coping with his father’s suicide in a memoir excerpt that explores grief, memory, and the long-lasting impact of loss. The narrative details the moments surrounding the death of Donald Lee Redmon, a Vietnam War veteran and Redmon’s father, who died by suicide near their home in Dayton, Ohio.

The family’s ordeal began when Redmon’s mother called the police after his father disappeared. A lone officer first responded to their modest apartment complex, but more officers returned with a priest early the next morning to deliver the tragic news. Redmon describes his own reaction as a confused and fearful teenager, locking himself away and eventually running in circles around the apartment complex, unable to escape the cycle of grief and uncertainty.

In the days following, Redmon recalls attending his father’s funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, where he was overwhelmed by the formal military ceremony and the weight of loss made tangible by the folded American flag presented to him. Despite the finality of the service, Redmon struggled with denial and magical thinking, imagining his father had abandoned the family to start a new life. This ongoing search for answers and meaning forms a central theme of his memoir.

Donald Redmon’s last act was to check into a hotel room just seven miles from the family’s residence, where he took his own life by overdosing on medication. A handwritten suicide note was found in his car, addressed to his wife and children with the simple, enduring message: “Tell the kids I love them.” Although Jeremy Redmon burned the note shortly after his father’s death, its sentiment remains a focal point in his reflection on what was left unsaid.

The memoir serves as a tribute not only to his father but also to military veterans, single parents, and families affected by loss and mental health struggles. Redmon aims to destigmatize conversations around suicide and mental illness while offering hope to others who have experienced similar tragedies. His story emphasizes the healing power of writing, reading, and other passions—such as poetry, journalism, and gardening—that helped him make sense of his father’s death and find a path forward.

Redmon’s work honors those who have served and those left behind, shedding light on an issue often shrouded in silence. By sharing his personal journey, he seeks to provide comfort and understanding to others grappling with grief and to encourage ongoing dialogue about suicide prevention and mental health support.

Resources for individuals seeking help include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and organizations such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Suicide Awareness Voices of Education.