Cornerstones of the Cove

No matter where you go, how far you travel, or where you end up, if you were raised in the Cove, you are never far from home.

Fred and Carol Kagarise raised two sons just outside of Ore Hill near the "blinking lights" at Cross Cove Road. They took different career paths, with younger son Kent embarking on a career in the military that took him all over the world, and older son Mark following in his dad's footsteps into transportation and raising his own family in the Cove area. The Kagarises said they credit the values of small-town living for helping give their sons the tools to succeed.

"Our boys have done well, and we are very proud of them both," Carol said. "Raising them here in the Cove, they were surrounded by good people who had strong values."

Kent was 18 years old when he graduated from Central High School 1989 and joined the army. In 2008, he transferred to the Air Force, retiring last month with the rank of Master Sgt. While Kent's military career would take him to places that were physically and culturally worlds away from the Cove, he said he was never far away from home.

"If you grew up in the Cove, you are really never that far away," he said. "During my 30-year career, I have bumped into people from the Cove and there is an immediate smile and a discussion who has the best pizza. OIP strombolis for me."

Before joining the Army, Kent had to first convince his parents that it was the right move for him. Carol admits she was not thrilled with the idea of her younger son joining the army and possibly going to war.

"I was very worried," Carol said. "I didn't want him to go but it was what he wanted, and he got a lot out of it."

Fred was a little easier to convince but only after a friendly reminder from his son about a conversation they had a few years earlier.

"I was against it at first and then Kent said to me, 'Dad, didn't you always say you wished you had gone into the military when you were young?'" Fred said. "I said, 'Give me the papers' and I signed them."

Coming from a close-knit rural community surrounded by farmlands, Kent said basic training was his first exposure to people from different backgrounds than his. He said the same could be said for his fellow recruits.

"This was the first time I experienced all walks of life, race, nationalities, creeds, socio-economic structures, and education levels. This was not unique for me. No matter where you came from in this country you were exposed to future warriors who were all trying to find their 'new self,'" he said.

During his 30 years of service to his country, Kent has been to places most people only read about. He's experienced war in Iraq and Kuwait, witnessed first-hand the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and was stationed throughout the country, having lived in Washington state, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Arizona, Maryland, and Wyoming, before settling in Kansas City with his wife Eva, three children and two step-children.

Kent said the greatest reward he gained from his military experience is the ability to listen.

"True communication is only accomplished through each party listening," he said. "Communication and true understanding of others is only accomplished after years of working through resistance. Ask any young athlete at Central High School working out in a gym, training for next season if they have ever achieved growth without resistance. A one time visit to the gym will bring you pain, but without continued exercise routines there will be no growth."

He said the greatest lesson he learned was developing the ability to know when he was wrong and to admit it.

"Know when you are wrong, admit you are wrong, and ask for forgiveness," he said. "Pursue growth, and don't be afraid to have regrets."

Kent's memories of growing up in the Cove include exploring the days away with his best friend, Bill Smith. While both graduated from Central High School, the pair met in the fifth grade at St. Patrick Catholic School in Newry.

Although he only spent a couple of years at St. Patrick, Kent said it had a profound effect on his life.

"I was watching my nine-year-old and seven-year-old play on the swings at a park this weekend here in Kansas City," he said. "I remembered swinging on swings at St. Pat's. As I remember them, they were the biggest swings ever. We would go very high and jump off and for a brief second a kid felt he could fly. I am sure the swings weren't as big as I remember them, but that defines St. Pat's. You can fly."

Kent said the challenges of life make it difficult to visit the Cove as often as he would like. He said he makes it home about every other year but carries the memories of his days in the Cove, days he said went by too fast.

"The Cove is utopia," he said. "It is a land that time forgot. When we return, we are blessed with memories as little has changed. It is unique that as a young person you may think, 'I can't wait to get out of here.' I think many young people feel this way no matter where they are growing up. Once you get out though, and experience all the world has to offer, a trip to 1980s Stump's for an ice cream sandwich or Sheetz for a two for 99 cents hot dog deal is a memory with a smile."

Kent said a young person's days in the Cove go by in the blink of an eye and every moment is to be savored.

"To young people reading this, I would say treasure every moment," he said. "If you leave the Cove, life will pick you up in a tidal wave you never saw coming. Every reason you thought you had for leaving will rush back and before you know it 30 years will pass, and you'll wonder, where did it go?"

Editor's Note: Cornerstones of the Cove is the Herald's new series of features on members of the Cove who deserve recognition. All submissions should be sent to news@mcheraldonline.com or call (814) 793-2144 and ask for Anna.