Moses Lake remembers the Kermit Kid

MOSES LAKE — Maybe it’s the stark imagery of black and white photography that draws you in, the curl of hair on his forehead or the light bouncing off a face of innocence.

You would never know there was a soul, a kindred spirit, trapped inside an unresponsive body.

But it is his eyes lure you closer, make you realize there’s something more significant to the vision of an All-American boy from the farmlands of central Washington.

Photographer Ashley Potter captured the moment for all to see and those who stood before the Faces of Hope photo exhibition Thursday evening at the Red Door Cafe found themselves looking at the world with a different perspective.

Through the eyes of Austin’s mother, Monica, appears a fun-loving boy with a heart of gold. She remembers his laugh, a boy whose love for the Muppets character Kermit the Frog earned him the nickname “The Kermit Kid.”

“His joy in life was Kermit the Frog,” she said with a laugh. “He wore Kermit shirts, Kermit hats, everything Kermit we could find. It wasn’t hard shopping for him.”

Through the eyes of Austin’s father, Beau, who is one of Moses Lake’s finest, a sergeant in the Moses Lake Police Department, there was just a touch of sadness for a son who passed away on the Fourth of July last year. Thursday would have been Austin’s 21st birthday. Beau stood proudly in uniform as a group of 25-30 people gathered in tribute to a young man that left this world all too soon. It wasn’t hard to figure out where Austin got his smile from.

Through the eyes of Austin’s brother Ridge, three years his junior, was a mixed bag of emotions. He stood looking on wearing a “Green is Good” T-shirt with the face of Kermit bold as life. As he stood looking on, he recalled his favorite Austin story.

“We used to watch the Muppets when we were younger. Austin used to mimic Kermit’s voice,” he said. “He was pretty good at it. We’d start laughing.”

Through the eyes of Vernon Scriven, Monica’s father, came the remembrance of a grandson and the struggles in his daughter’s life. Family is forever and Austin touched the lives of those he held dear and they responded in kind.

Through the eyes of Holly Lytle, founder of the Isaac Foundation for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, is a vision of hope. Holly and her husband Reed lost their son Isaac to autism, which is the fastest growing developmental disorder in the United States. No one knows what causes it, but medical research indicates intensive early intervention therapies are equipping children with the skills to enjoy independent lives. The Isaac Foundation is a non-profit organization that helps hundreds of children and their families with therapy, grants and support groups.

And finally, through the eyes of Potter, who also worked with Austin during his therapy sessions in Spokane, came a vision of integrity. Her photograph of Austin captivated a moment in a young man’s life that offered many things to many people. Her visual display in the Faces of Hope exhibit was a fitting tribute to all the children searching for a sense of normalcy. Each face, each frame depicted the very essence of spirit behind the smile.

The Kermit Kid was just one of several, but he was the one who touched Moses Lake because he was one of us.

Even the balloon group Ridge brought in for the reception had a story.

They were green, of course, with one dominating balloon — the face of Kermit the Frog. The Kermit balloon was on display at Austin’s 20th birthday last year. They blew it up again for a presentation at his funeral. It seemed only right that Kermit make one more appearance as Moses Lake paid tribute to the Kermit Kid.

For more information on the Isaac Foundation visit TheISAACFoundation.org.