If you recall, a young man named Aaron Coon was granted a Make-a-Wish. Aaron had a brain tumor, it was wicked and when Make-a-Wish comes along, it’s generally granting a final wish. The options were for a trip, some work on one of his favorite Mopar cars or anything he’d like. What Aaron wished for blew the entire community away. What the community responded with is the stuff that legends are made of, and why his act of good has to carry on long past the far too early loss of a young man who displayed a selfless life early on.
Aaron wished to leave a mark. I think he wished to be a philanthropist too even though in your mid teens, doing the right thing and associating the word philanthropy with it, might be a couple years down the road. But that’s exactly what happened with Aaron’s wish. He wished for an outdoor classroom at his elementary school in Twin Lake. I met up with his mom Rachel Coon right across 120 from the school at the Overboard Inn to talk about this years show. Of course, with an even like this, and the generosity of her son, there’s a little catching up to do.
The loss of a child is a hole that can never be filled for a parent, it’s unimaginable. However, the Coon family firmly believes that the good Aaron started and set by example day after day cannot be lost in his absence. If he’s not here himself to carry out what he began the rest of the family surely will pick up the slack and turn this tragedy into a triumph. Last summer, the first car show was held in his honor at the Fellowship Church on Apple. We pitched in to put some music on and see the sights. It was spectacular. With cars, trucks, bikes and tractors. They gave the tractors the year off this year….but Jeeps are also welcome so all of the fans of the ducks, better come loaded and ready for some ducking. There will be food served bu the church to raise a few bucks for the i3 Youth Group that Aaron was part of. The registration for the show is free the day of and the show itself is held from 6p-8p.
This is how it begins in Muskegon. Think of the tiny events that have begun after a tragedy? 30 years of the Sandy Corley Memorial Run. Millions raised. How about the Cars for Cancer event on Labor Day/ Heykoop Memorial Car show? Starting to get the idea? Muskegon get the spark and carries it all the way to a full fireworks show. Because the right person led the way. This time, the right person was a teen who wanted to give back to kids in perpetuity….and the name Aaron Coon will be there for the long haul.
There’s a new Facebook page for the Aaron Coon Memorial Car show. CLICK HERE to join the group. This group will be curated so that there’s no chance of any kind of scammers or spammers allowed.
