Healing, comforting begin in Pelican Rapids

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Saturday and Sunday were days of mourning for the Pelican Rapids community. Monday was a day of comforting.

More than 1,000 people packed the Pelican Rapids High School gymnasium Monday evening to hold hands, share tears and seek comfort amidst the pain they were feeling following the tragic bus accident that left 16-year-old Pelican Rapids student Jessica Weishair dead and many others injured.

“We hurt and grieve with you,” said Minnesota Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau, who traveled to Pelican Rapids and spoke on behalf of Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the entire state. “Healing begins with what we believe in here tonight. Many of us feel lost, but at times like this we hope for more and hope to do more.”

Pelican Rapids Supt. Deborah Wanek, on behalf of the school district, expressed public condolences to the Weishair family on the loss of their daughter. She said hearts also go out to those injured and all of the students and adults on the band trip “for what you’ve endured.”

“We turn to God in a time of crisis,” said Laurie Skow-Anderson, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pelican Rapids. “We pray for strength.”

She said that events in recent days have brought home that life is fragile.

“Tonight, we have one more lesson — the importance of community,” Skow-Anderson said. “In a small town when one person rejoices, we all rejoice. When one person mourns, we all mourn.”

Pelican Rapids High School Principal Glenn Moerke praised the town of Albertville, which he said is similar in spirit to Pelican Rapids. Residents of Albertville, where the bus accident took place, quickly went to work to help the band students and adult chaperones in any way they could.

The Albertville Lions Club donated gasoline cards to parents and others from Pelican Rapids. St. Albert Catholic Church opened its doors as a gathering place for band students and adult chaperones. Other works of kindness also were prevalent in Albertville.

“Albertville is like Pelican Rapids in that they know how to take care of one another,” Moerke said. “People in nearby school districts also called us, asking what they could do to help.”

School counselor Marlys Ebersviller said counselors will be available to students this week in the Fine Arts Auditorium at the high school. Counselors also will be available to students in need of support at Viking Elementary.

“Each person reacts differently to trauma,” Ebersviller said. “Some students may need support at the Fine Arts Auditorium, while others might want to simply get back into the classroom routine.”

Pastors and other clergy members from Pelican Rapids area churches read scripture Monday evening at the prayer service, and individual prayers were delivered — followed by moments of silence. Those in attendance, led by musicians Gladys Hovland and Randy Skow-Anderson, sang “On Eagles Wings,” “Blessed Be” and “Amazing Grace.”