River Falls community gathers to remember the ‘angels’ that were lost
Among the hundreds of people who attended a candle-light vigil Wednesday evening, July 11, at Glen Park, not a dry eye could be found. Groups of little girls were seen embracing each other or their parents as they sobbed. Juli Matzke led the vigil by saying a few words about her connection with the late Schaffhausen girls, followed by the playing of the song, "Amazing Grace."By: Ashley Hall, River Falls Journal
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Among the hundreds of people who attended a candle-light vigil Wednesday evening, July 11, at Glen Park, not a dry eye could be found. Groups of little girls were seen embracing each other or their parents as they sobbed. Juli Matzke led the vigil by saying a few words about her connection with the late Schaffhausen girls, followed by the playing of the song, "Amazing Grace."
“We want to heal our children and support them,” Matzke told the crowd of mostly young parents and their children. “Memories will always remain.”
Everyone was touched by the poem that Matzke composed, called "Gone too Soon." Matzke encouraged the attendees to sign the poster at the vigil and to send letters of encouragement and/or donations to the family.
There were three minutes of silence that followed the prayers, poems and music --one minute of silence for each of the sisters who died: Cecilia, 5; Sophie, 8; and Amara, 11.
When remembering the three sisters, Matzke reminded the grieving crowd, “When we get to go home tonight, we get to hug our loved ones. Jess (the girls’ mother) doesn’t get to do that.”
Toward the end of the vigil, St. Croix Valley community counselor Catherine C. Olson spoke words of encouragement to the children attending the vigil. Olson reminded them that even if they did not know the sisters, their grief was no different from the ones who did -- everyone grieves differently, Olson said.
“We will not let this (tragedy) define our community, we will remain strong and safe,” said Olson, of River Falls.
Hannah Bellrichard, 17, and her sister Sarah, 14, were at the vigil to support the community and family. Bellrichard’s mother works with the St. Croix County District Attorney’s Office and is helping Jessica through this difficult time.
“I know how hard it is for my mom to be with their mom and for their family during this,” Bellrichard said. “We just need to be there for our mom.”
After the vigil, there was a memorial at Greenwood to place cards, candles or mementos at the base of the flagpole.
Tags: river falls, area news, wisconsin
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