KEESEVILLE — Twenty years ago, Tom Dragoon had one wish: to hold his son Mark one last time for Father’s Day.
“I don’t care what you have to do. I want him home,” Dragoon recalled saying to rescuers during a 10-day recovery search for his son in the Ausable River.
He got his wish when 28-year-old Mark Dragoon’s body was found June 15, 2006, 10 days after he and his friends went rafting upstream when he got swept away in the rapids.
Father’s Day landed on June 18 that year.
“For 10 days, we were there every day … When we got done, I had a list of volunteers that had shown up to try to help us,” Dragoon said.
“That list numbered 324 people, fire departments, different agencies and whatnot that showed up within 10 days. I sent out 324 thank you notes to all those people, and to this day, I still hold a great debt for everything that was done.”
Since then, Dragoon and his ex-wife, Marie Donnell Miller, have done everything they can to ensure Mark’s memory is not forgotten.
On the 20th anniversary of Mark’s death, and one day before what would have been his 49th birthday, June 5, Dragoon and Donnell Miller, with help from Justin Burl and Keeseville Fire Department members, held a remembrance ceremony at Anderson Falls Park in Keeseville. Several community members, Keeseville Fire Department members and family members attended.
Donnell Miller said Mark had initially got to safety when their rafting expedition went wrong, but he jumped back into the rapids to save his friend. Donnell Miller said her son was able to save his friend but, unfortunately, could not get back to safety himself.
“I’m so proud of him,” she said through tears. “I’m so proud of all these people that have done so much … and we’ll keep going as long as we can.”
Dragoon said it’s important to keep his son’s memory alive while also supporting the Keeseville Fire Department’s Swift Water Rescue Team, which was on the scene every day looking for his son 20 years ago.
He said the rescue team does not get enough public credit for the work they do each year.
“I can’t say enough good about everything these folks have done in the North Country, for my family and their continued support in trying to save lives,” Dragoon said.
Burl, who was one of the first first responders on the scene the night Mark went missing, said at the ceremony that the family has conservatively raised $150,000 for the Keeseville Swift Water Rescue Team since then.
“From that day, I’ve had a personal relationship with Tom, and what this man has done, and his family, to honor Mark’s legacy is beyond inspiring. And what you see here today with the department’s Swift Water Rescue are a testament to what Tom and his family and folks have done to honor him,” Burl said.
“For Tom and his family to move to make something from so tragic to such a success in saving other victims, saving other lives, is just, is unreal.”
Annually, a golf tournament in Mark’s name is hosted in August at Harmony Golf Course in Port Kent. All of the funds go toward Keeseville’s Swift Water Rescue Team.
This year, the tournament is being held Aug. 1.
“This is the major source of support for this fantastic team of volunteers risking their lives to save others in danger,” Dragoon said. “Any support you can offer to provide the equipment and training these heroes need will be greatly appreciated.
“Thank you all for 20 years of supporting my heroes and my family. God Bless.”