During these final months of the school year, death is the furthest thing from a high school student’s mind. We are too busy being excited for summer and the end of another school year to worry about something so far away and foreign as death.
“Death is for the old and sickly; not for us, we can’t die, there’s too much for us to do, to experience, to see.”
If we read the front page of a newspaper we might see a story about a teen or two tragically dead before their time, but they’re so far away, “that’s not us, that could never be us.”
Unfortunately the accident, which took the lives of five teens, reminded us of the frailty of our lives and that it could have been anyone us. Those kids were us.
It seemed as if everyone had a different story about the accident: how many were dead, how exactly it happened, who was involved. The only thing anybody was sure of was that lives were lost. The lives of teenagers, of our classmates, our friends, and our children.
The community reacted almost instantly. There were pages posted on social media for people to share their condolences, vigils and fundraisers were organized, people were reaching out to help in any way they could.
The scene on the lawn of St. Kilians church Sunday night was heartdropping, as thousands of people from the community came to the church to show their support with a candlelight vigil.
As the church bells tolled preceeding the vigil, time felt suspended. The air surrounding the church was alarmingly and respectfully quiet. During those moments a distinct feeling of regret, sadness and sorrow could be felt. “If only,” and “what if,” were common thought.
An online fund was set up on Saturday to help pay for Noah Francis’ funeral. In August, the Francis family lost Noah’s dad. His mother died fourteen years prior. The fund has already raised over $19,000 since its creation, anyone interested can donate online at http://www.gofundme.com/92i2o4. Farmingdale High School students will be wearing green on Monday to remember their lost Dalers. Despite the tragedy, it is refreshing to see the community come together to support those who have lost someone they love. After all, once a Daler, always a Daler.
