Members of the community came together for a vigil in honor of the four young lives that were recently lost.

Just in the past week, the community has lost second grader Maddie Shura, twelfth grader Mikayla Focht and eleventh grader Emma Auker. While tonight was about honoring the lives of those lost, it was also about honoring the fact that the community has come together in this time of need.

“May we stand together, as we grieve together,” said Assistant Principal Jason McGinnis. “Look around. You are not alone.”

Organizers of the vigil didn’t expect to see many people. They attribute the attendance to way these young ladies touched everyone’s life and the need for the community to rely on each other.

Micah Marshall of the Refuge Youth Network said, “Some would say that the lives of Emma, Mikayla, Maddie and Danielle that their value is gone because their dead. But I will tell you now that you are wrong. That their lives now are more valuable than they have ever been because it has taught us to come together as a community.”

Pastor Matt Stumpf wants everyone to always remember the moments they’ve had with these young ladies to keep the memories alive.

He said, “The time on the cheerleading bus, when everybody else was quiet and she did something stupid. Remember that. Laugh about it. Encourage each other to remember those things. Because that is what is going to keep that moment alive. That’s what is going to keep the spirit of Emma alive in you.”

The organizers wanted to let everyone in the crowd know that it is okay to lean on each other in this time of grieving. They encouraged students to speak with their teachers and for teachers to remember that they are not super-human and can reach out for help too.