A Community Pulls Together
(Latest information added 6/7/98)
"I know this has been a
community pain, a community disaster
Springfield Pastor.
"The Fence", overnight became a
monument in which thousands of people visited.
Flowers/poems were sent from all over the United States, Japan, and Australia.
"And this event we're calling a tragedy
is becoming a blessing for many families.
We're hugging more, talking more and listening more." Oregonian Newspaper
Church offerings went to the victim relief fund.
Church pastors joined together to see how they
could support
the community, resulting in several services and special vigils.
Area schools had a myriad of counselors for student support.
Stores and Plant Nurseries discounted plants and flowers for giving to "The Fence".
"We are under a banner that says, "Let It End Here",
I also say, let it begin here, Let the healing begin."
Student Body President of Thurston High School
Aftermath of the incident: All teachers at Thurston High called their own students
individually to offer love and support.
Local transit service sent a bus over to the school to transport students to the hospital.
Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene: Victims arrived as the staff was in process of a shift change, both shifts together helped the families and victims.
Hundreds of people donated blood into the Lane Memorial Blood Bank. "Our lines were so jammed with people no one could call in or out." Donors waited three hours to give blood. Others helped by moving chairs, pouring juice or brought boxes of candy and food in. "It was a very difficult day, but it was also touched with some real caring spirits". Donor Recruiter
Community members and restaurants delivered food for emergency personnel, families of victims and students. One restaurant: for every large pizza that was ordered, the whole amount was donated.
* An annual women's convention posted a banner with hundreds of names on them and donated $2,000 for the victims/families.
"I didn't know I was a person who gave or got a lot of hugs, but I sure have been this week... Hugs are in abundance."
Springfield High School's Principal
700 to 900 people attended Mikael Nickolauson's and Ben Walker's funeral.
Mikael Nickolauson was buried with full military honors for recently enlisting into the National Guard.
Silke Field, in Springfield, held the MidWestern League District Track and Field Championship, other schools hung banners around the field and wore ribbons to show their support. Thurston won that meet! Each Thurston athlete hung their numbers and electronic tags on "The Fence" afterwards.
* Thurston's boys soccer team took second in a tournament on their home field, many hung their medals on The Fence.
The media didn't find the negative as presupposed,
"What they found was quite opposite. What they found is the story of triumph of the human spirit."
Thurston High Principal
People wore: Blue ribbons to show community support. An idea that came from the Springfield firefighters, the blue shade represents the police officers uniforms. They can be found tied to trees and posts all over the area.
Red and Black Ribbons representing the school colors. A local fabric retailer donated all of its red and black ribbon in stock.
***A set of blue and red/black ribbons were carried into space by the space shuttle Discovery as they docked for the final time with Russia's Mir space station.
A local radio station began handing out the red/black ribbons, one man gave a dollar for each ribbon taken home. They had collected $185 in donations by Friday afternoon.
American Flags with black bands were put all over town, the last one, the 156th flag was placed at Thurston. A retailer donated 40 flags and flag poles. One fabric store donated all the black cloth and the owner subsequently cut the bands to size herself.
Another local radio station: listeners who called in for the "song of the day" contest won $98, the station donated $198 in the winners name. By Friday afternoon, $598 was given to the Thurston victims.
People have been donating "non-stop" at a local credit union. As of 4:30 p.m. Friday, donations were made from more than 300 people/groups, reaching $13,385, donating at a rate of $1,500 per hour Friday afternoon.
More that $200,000 has been raised for the victims and families. Some major expenses like hospitalization and funeral costs were written off.
"I want to commend the heroes who live in Springfield, not just the ones we hear about, although they are truly heroes, too, but the ones we don't hear about. The heroes who listen or offer a hug."
Springfield School Board Chairman
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