Through times of crisis and loss such as the recent tragic shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, a community learns a lot about itself. The devastating event has grieved and stunned us. Of course, we never expected anything like this to happen in our city. Ultimately, Marysville will be defined by our response to this event, by everybody coming together and supporting, loving, and caring for one another, not by the event itself. While I know our community will recover and be even stronger than we were before we must never forget the families among us who have suffered such unimagin-able loss.

I want to extend my deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families and friends. My heart goes out to you as mayor, a community member and father of two children who attend Marysville schools, and one who has graduated. Regardless of the circumstances and motives behind this tragedy for which we may never have answers, we do know that the community trauma will impact the lives of many people for a long time.

I am so proud of how our community has responded in this crisis, from first responders to caring community members who have turned out en masse to be together and support one another and our kids. Also, to those in surrounding communities and throughout the country who have reached out to us in so many touching and helpful ways, we feel the collective embrace in our community and we thank you.

So much credit must be given to MPHS staff and students for their quick thinking and action, and to law enforcement and EMS personnel, and the hospitals, for how they handled the entire operation from the first 911 call at 10:39 a.m. on Oct. 24, and the safety and care that is still being given. I spent much of my time between the Emergency Operations Center and Joint Information Center that day. The level of professionalism on display among several city, county, state and federal agency personnel who stepped up to offer their help was second to none.

In my years as mayor, I have always been available to visit classrooms to talk about the city, government, education and other topics. This past week, I have visited schools to talk to kids, teachers and parents about the MPHS tragedy. While there is certainly a lot of pain, I am encouraged by the atmosphere of care and healing being exhibited in our school district. Superintendent Becky Berg and her entire team throughout the district have done a truly remarkable job in handling everything that has come their way. I also want to say how much I am inspired by the citizens for their outpouring of compassion and concern for the victims and their families. We have seen many moving examples of caring, support and coming together to grieve. A memorial of flowers, balloons, ribbons and signs adorn the fence outside MPHS.

Families blanketed the community with red-and-white ribbons – the MPHS school colors –tied on trees and posts along State Avenue, Grove Street and other busy local roads. Flags fly at half-staff. Business board signs carry messages of love and support. Community and school gatherings, candlelight vigils and other events offered a time to begin to walk through this together. The Marysville Family YMCA, local churches and other facilities have opened their doors to offer grief counseling and a quiet place to go, away from the bustle.

When a tragedy such as this strikes the Marysville and Tulalip community and the people who call this area home, we all suffer, and we stand together in times of crisis. As governments, Marysville and Tulalip, as well as the Marysville School District, have a long-standing history of working together and supporting each other for the betterment of our respective communities, and our younger generation as well. A few years ago, we established a “Building Bridges” column for a local community and tribal newspaper that became a platform for reiterating our successful partnership and the many ways we work together to keep it strong. The occasional column is written in rotation by leaders of the city, tribes and school district. The willingness between our mutual governments to reach out in times of crisis, share law enforcement and other resources, and communicate and collaborate effectively are just a few among many examples of that partnership.

My message to all young people is this: talk to someone and be with people that you care about and who care about you. Talk to your friends, a parent, teacher, grief counselor, school staff member, an adult that you trust and confide in, and/or whomever else is able to help you through this. It may not seem like it, but the adults in this community care about you, and are there to listen and support you. If you didn’t know it until now, you’re going to believe it soon enough. You’re this community’s future, and we are here for you. This is a true community tragedy, and a defining moment that we will not forget. It will take a long time for our community to heal from this, but we will prevail. We live, work and play together; going forward, we will heal together. That is who we are as a community.

Lastly, I wanted to share a quote that has taken on new meaning for me in the aftermath of this tragic event: “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” – Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.

Heritage Bank (formerly Whidbey Island Bank) and the Marysville Rotary Club Foundation have set up a special fund to assist victims in the tragic shooting at M-P. The bank is located at 1031 State Ave. Suite #1, Marysville, WA 98270, or call 360-651-3100 for details. Donations also may be sent in care of the Marysville Rotary Education Foundation at P.O. Box 1875, Marysville, WA 98270. For details call Jodi Runyon at the school district at 360-653-0800.

Please keep the victims, their families and our entire Marysville/Tulalip community in your thoughts and prayers.

Jon Nehring – Mayor, city of Marysville