For John and Skylar Merrifield, the best therapy for filling the void created when their teenage son was killed in a one-car rollover has been to help prevent others from repeating their tragedy.
Since that day in July 1997, the Merrifield's have raised awareness of wearing seat belts in rear seats by encouraging the passage of rear seat belt legislation."There is no closure to the pain of the death of a child," Brother Merrifield said. "You only learn to live with it. It does help me to know that I am doing all I can to prevent these unnecessary deaths of other children."
The death of 16-year-old Burgess Merrifield, who would have played tackle for his varsity high school football team the next fall, stirred a seat belt lobbying effort led by his parents that crested in June 1999 with the signing of new "buckle up" law by the Texas governor.
Burgess was returning with other Scouters from a two-week activity and was sleeping unbelted in the rear seat when the driver lost control of the car, causing the car to roll three times. "We were told that Burgess was in 'bad shape,' " said Brother Merrifield during a press conference in February 2000 describing the day of the accident. While traveling to the site outside Sweetwater, Texas, they learned he had died.
About two weeks after the funeral, "I was sitting on the stair landing in our home feeling so helpless," he said. "Just two weeks before, Burgess filled our home with joy and laughter. A tremendous void now consumed our lives.
"Skylar came and sat by me. I told her that I felt helpless and frustrated. There was nothing I could do to fix Burgess. I wanted him back so much. All I felt I could do was see that other parents did not experience our suffering and that children did not needlessly die."
Aided by Sen. Mike Moncrief, Brother Merrifield went on a public awareness crusade, testifying before Senate and House sub-committees, sending letters, speaking at workshops and making radio announcements. Despite concerns that mandating seat belt usage bordered on excessive government intervention, SB-60 passed both houses with near unanimous support.
Another in a series of "Shining Moments." Illustration by John Clark.