Frightened. Confused. And not knowing what to do. This is how many people I knew, as well as myself, felt 10 years ago on September, 29th, 2006. It was a tragic day for many people in the Weston School District community as well as many people outside of it. Parents, Grandparents, and neighboring schools. This day will never be forgotten.
As very little of you know I went to a small school called Weston, it is in between Cazenovia Wisconsin, and Lime Ridge Wisconsin, literally in the middle of some corn fields. This school is Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade, and everybody knows everybody. Needless to say, our community was and still is really close. It’s just a great school to grow up in.
On this day, since I was really little, I don’t remember what had happened, and I didn’t know why everyone was so scared. I just did what my teacher told me to do and tried not to worry too much about it. Because what could have happened? I went to an amazing, safe school, and I felt safe.
Later when we were released to our parents, that was when I found out what had happened. My principal, John Klang, had been shot. I’m not sure what I thought at that time, but I do know some people in my life who were traumatized, and this honestly still impacts many of those who were involved. It wasn’t and still isn’t easy to talk about, even as ten years have passed. Some things never leave you, and neither do the people who make a huge difference in your life.
Sometimes it’s the ordinary people in your life who make the biggest difference. The ones who go out of their way to save those around them. The ones who care more about others safety than their own. The ones who stand up when danger is at foot. The ones who are brave. The ones who are strong. And the ones who will never be forgotten.
John Klang is one of those people. And he will always be my superhero.
