MARYSVILLE — The struggle to move forward in the face of tragedy defined The Grove Church’s candlelight vigil in the wake of the Marysville-Pilchuck High School shooting Oct. 24.
Pastor Nik Baumgart was joined by his wife, Heather, and Mayor Jon Nehring in offering words of comfort to those who filled the church’s pews, ground floor and balcony.
Just as Nehring praised Snohomish County Executive John Lovick, Gov. Jay Inslee and U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen for attending, so too did Baumgart call the crowd’s attention to members of the Oak Harbor football team, who were seated in the pews.
“Before, it was always that other city, or those others schools, but now, it’s us,” Baumgart said. “It’s a roller coaster. You go from thinking, ‘I can do this,’ to thinking, ‘How can I do this?’ The answer is, one day at a time, one moment at a time.”
While Baumgart encouraged attendees to express their emotions, and share their anger and sorrow with each other, Nehring urged the community to place a priority on healing, and supporting those who have been hit hardest, from the children who were hospitalized to the families who lost loved ones.
“We all sent our kids off to school this morning, and we didn’t think that they might not come home,” Nehring said.
Nehring cited the strength of the Marysville community, and the support it’s received from other communities and agencies, throughout the state and country.
“Let’s not forget that the Tulalip Tribes are hurting too tonight,” Nehring said. “Everyone is affected.”
Baumgart, himself an M-P alum, reflected on how difficult it will be like for students to return to school, but also challenged the Marysville community not to let this event limit them.
“What are we going to let win?” Baumgart asked. “Will pain win? Will we let ourselves be defined by this?”
As a mom, Heather Baumgart gave the many young people in attendance the reassurance that they are not alone, before she urged them not to bottle up their true feelings.
“You have teachers, parents, and people at the library and the church who love you,” she said. “You need to be honest, though. When people ask how we’re doing, we usually say, ‘I’m doing okay.’ You need to say, ‘Today, I’m feeling afraid,’ or, ‘Today, I’m feeling sad.’ You need to learn to say what’s in your heart, so that others can help you.”
Although Kayla Beecher and Madison McNeal attend Marysville Getchell High School, one of the shooting victims was a sister of one of their former classmates.
“Of all the schools, why would this happen here?” Kayla asked. “It’s way too shocking.”
Both girls attend The Grove Church, so just as Kayla was gratified to see it serve as an outlet for community members to reach out to each other in their time of need, so too did Madison appreciate Pastor Baumgart repeating the aphorism that “It takes a village to raise a child.”
“Everyone is responsible for the community’s kids,” Madison said. “The fact that organizations like the Red Cross would have people here to talk to, if we need them, is great.”
Gabriela Gomez, a junior at M-PHS, was still numb after the vigil, but she believes that it helped.
“I don’t know what my feelings are right now,” Gabriela said. “I just can’t believe it. I do know that I’m not alone, though.”
