Buena Park Independent
Born and raised in Southern California, Fred Curtis, an American Indian from the San Carlos Apache/Yaqui Nation, was the guest speaker during the recent annual Buena Park Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast held at the Knott’s Berry Farm Resort Hotel.
The loss of a loved one is always traumatic, but there is no greater loss than that of a child – and those in the audience, especially those who had recently buried family members said they could relate to Curtis’ topic.
Buena Park Independent
Born and raised in Southern California, Fred Curtis, an American Indian from the San Carlos Apache/Yaqui Nation, was the guest speaker during the recent annual Buena Park Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast held at the Knott’s Berry Farm Resort Hotel.
The loss of a loved one is always traumatic, but there is no greater loss than that of a child – and those in the audience, especially those who had recently buried family members said they could relate to Curtis’ topic.
“His comments were soothing, with a religious tone and he was an outstanding speaker,” an attendee said.
“His words helped me cope with the loss of my mother and sister in one year,” another confided.
“I had another speech written about, ‘Keeping the faith and staying inspired,’” Curtis said, as he explained that late the night before the breakfast, a higher power spoke to his soul and guided him to jot down new notes.
Speaking from his heart, Curtis shared the painful loss of his 16-year-old son because of a drunk driver.
Going through the actual experience was difficult enough, but Curtis said sharing the loss with those gathered for inspiration Thursday, Nov. 15, “Was the hardest thing I’ve done besides burying my son,” he said. “Today was part cleansing and part of the healing process for me and people told me they were helped by my story; I feel blessed to have helped them heal too.”
Curtis said he values and celebrates America.
“I cherish the beauty in this room today and the beauty outside and am honored to be here; my story is about losing a child July 29,1995.”
Curtis said he was seeing his son off to school.
“I asked if my son needed any money and he shared that no he didn’t need money that day. We said we loved each other and he asked if he could go out to the desert with friends – eight friends – whose parents would be there; he was almost 17 years old,” Curtis said.
“It was Noon on the 29th when a call came from the coroner – ‘Your son has been killed by a drunk driver’ – my son had been killed by a drunk driver…
“My emotional slate had been wiped clean – it was difficult to stay focused – I got into the car and drove aimlessly and screamed and yelled… it was my way of coping and it wouldn’t bother anyone,” he said.
“After sleeping 18 to 20 hours a day, being wiped out, feeling like I’d been hit by a train, I woke up with phenomena and thought, “I can join Jonathan or stay here – and at that time I felt my son next to me encouraging me to stay here – telling me there were good things in store for me.”
Curtis said that it was at that moment, a light went on for him, and he knew he was going to be okay.
A man gave Curtis a Native American flute and he said he found something comforting about the flute but he couldn’t play it.
“I went to the doctor and received penicillin for the phenomena but wasn’t comfortable being medicated for depression; the flutebecame my medicine and the flute took the place of driving around aimlessly – when something like that happened – I wouldn’t remember how I had gotten there.
“I kept trying to play the flute, but couldn’t; it sounded screechy but one day I woke up and I could play the flute like a bird; I recorded myself playing the flute and played the tape for my sweetheart, Dawn.
“I can hear the wind, water and different animals,” she said, and asked who the artist was and I said it was me; she started laughing and said, “That’s impossible, yesterday, you couldn’t play it.”
That’s when Curtis went to the other room, got his flute and played it for her.
“How the heck did you do that, when yesterday you couldn’t even play it? She asked again.
“I don’t know, I just woke up and could play it like a bird.”
This is when Curtis said he began piecing his emotional foundation back together, rooted in love and integrity.
“I have a new and renewed confidence in my God.
“Sometimes I still feel like I’m alone in a small boat in a storm but I always know that if I keep the bow of the boat pointed towards where I want to go I will be okay.”
Curtis said that out of the great tragedy, came a great gift.
“My son’s death has made me realize what a gift it is to be on this earth and how important it is not to waste it.
“My son’s death has inspired me to raise money for American Indian education and to not be focused on me.
Curtis serves on the board of the Little Eagle Free Scholarship Foundation, founded by Frances Knott, wife of Steve Knott, who is the grandson of Knott’s Berry Farm Founder Walter Knott.
LEF is a non-profit organization that raises money for American Indian Scholarships for higher education for American Indians going on to college.
Curtis closed his remarks by playing, “Amazing Grace” on an American Indian flutes he hand crafted..
Additionally, the Buena Park Youth Theatre Spotlighters sang Josh Groban’s, “You Lift Me Up.” They are directed by Karen Labok and their vocal director is Kristin McGuire, a former BPYT participant.
