MARYSVILLE — Marysville city and school district officials were among the dozens of community members who joined the Girl Scouts of Western Washington in the Marysville-Pilchuck High School stadium on the evening of Friday, Jan. 4, to honor the victims and all those affected by the Dec. 14, 2012, shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary.

A candlelight vigil featured Girl Scouts and their family members singing “I Am One Voice,” with 26 singers representing the 26 lives lost in Connecticut that day, before candles were passed out to attendees in the stands of Quil Ceda Stadium, so that they could join in the song.

Dr. Tom Albright, who serves as both a Marysville School Board member and chaplain for the Marysville Police Department and Fire District, acknowledged how the questions raised by such a tragedy are challenging to him, especially as a parent, a grandparent and the husband of a teacher.

“Just as the children and staff who died in Newtown came from many backgrounds and faiths, so do we today,” Albright said. “I ask each of you to take a moment to pray in your tradition for the children, teachers, staff, first responders and their families, communities and nation.”

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring recalled how unimaginable the news of the shooting had seemed when he’d heard it on his car radio that day.

“You wonder what could drive someone to do something so awful,” Nehring said. “Even though it happened 2,800 miles away, our sympathies are not any weaker, and what the Girl Scouts have done here today is commendable. The things you do may seem small sometimes, but they’re not.”

Tasha Branch, community development manager for the North Regional Girl Scouts, pointed out how personal this tragedy was for the Girl Scouts, since eight of the 12 girls who died were Girl Scouts, and two Girl Scout families lost sons.

 

Contact Marysville Globe Reporter Kirk Boxleitner at kboxleitner@marysvilleglobe.com or 360-659-1300 Ext. 5052.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.