article_snippet: Students, former students, teachers and other community members began to fill the hallways of the high school building because Students, former students, teachers and other community members didn't know where else to go to find consolation.
article_snippet: Local pastors, priests, teachers and counselors were also gathering at the school to offer whatever comfort could be offered in such a moment.
article_snippet: Within hours, phone calls began pouring in from former students and teachers who were now living outside the area, offering condolences and prayers for all.
article_snippet: School was not in session during the summer months, so students and school staff members were able to express students and school staff members sense of loss as students and school staff members felt necessary at any time.
article_snippet: A community prayer service was arranged and held in the high school gymnasium to provide a place to weep together, and to share each other's pain.
article_snippet: Because we are a community of about 5,000 with just one high school, almost everyone opened almost everyone arms of support to those in deepest need by providing meals, baby-sitting, housecleaning and laundry services.
article_snippet: Funeral services were held one at a time, some in the high school and others in local churches.
article_snippet: Long lines of mourners waited in silence for the opportunity to at least offer condolences to family members.
article_snippet: Twenty-one funeral services over a period of several days left many in the community without any more tears to cry.
article_snippet: Within a couple of months, a memorial service was held on the local athletic field and attended by thousands.
article_snippet: Over time, the various families that lost When a parent, or someone serving as a parent children in the tragedy formed support groups to share When a parent, or someone serving as a parent loss.
article_snippet: Many of the folks have reached out to others going through a similar type of loss to offer the folks comfort, and have found a little bit of personal healing in the process.