In the wake of a great tragedy, it is amazing how well a city can come
together for support. I always knew that there was something a little
different about Fairborn but I couldn’t exactly put my finger on it.
Although it is a small city comprised of 30+ thousand people made of a
huge mix of races and generations, it seems to thrive in its own little
way. It still lives
and breathes after much of the businesses were taken
and moved to neighboring Beavercreek once the Fairfield Mall and I-675
went up. It is sad however to drive down some of the business streets
and only see vacant lots and very few cars in front of those businesses
still alive. It is sad for people who have moved here generations ago to
settle down next the one of the biggest air force bases. It is also sad
for those who have grown up here not knowing the future or even the
past.I was shown a few nights ago at the benefit at Cadillac Jacks how close knit this city is and its character. The funny thing about this night was that it wasn’t about some grand illumination of a tree or the opening of a huge commerce development or even some great politician that was making some big announcement about a business proposition for the area. It was about a college kid that simply grew up in the community and a young man that sparkled on and off the football field a short five years ago. He didn’t bring a multimillion dollar expansion to the city. He didn’t set a new budget for the school system. He didn’t do anything that most people would label as a success story for a city that would change things monetarily. The one thing he did do well; was be himself without caring about his image.
Unfortunately I never really had the pleasure of knowing him personally
but I did see him from the football sidelines. From the sidelines I saw
a young man torch any defense he would go against with ease. His senior
year he set the record for receiving touchdowns in a season at 21.
Although most people would see the razzle dazzle on the field as the
great attribute, I saw, and judging by the response of this city,
something much better. What caught my eye was what happened on the
sidelines.What I saw was a very athletic, smart, popular guy who genuinely cared for others. He could have dismissed those who weren't in the same "clique" as him but he decided to do the exact opposite. He took the one kid who looked up to him the most and loved on him like no one else would. In the DDN article that ran on Tuesday, that kid remembered him by saying, “People picked on me because I’ve been big my whole life. He was always there and he had a really great heart.” I constantly saw him on the sidelines being right beside him, being there with his big heart.
That is what I remember about Chris Kernich. It wasn't the touchdowns, the receiving yards, or the records. It is also what I believe this city of Fairborn remembers as well.
- Matt Scruggs, HawkVision Reporter, Fairborn Class of 2004