Seventeen years ago, April 20, 1999, the world became just a little bit scarier than the day before. Two teenage boys walked into their high school with intent to harm as many of their fellow classmates as they possibly could. But their plan didn’t go as originally coordinated -- they set homemade bombs up in their cafeteria, set to go off at the peak of the lunch period with the most amount of students. But the bombs didn’t detonate like they hoped, so they started their murderous rampage from the front lawn of the school and continued throughout the school, finally ending in the death of the suspects in the library.

After about 30 minutes of the first shot at the school, the whole world watched in panic as all major news channels and local channels broadcast the horror that was unfolding in the small suburban area of Littleton, Colorado. Nobody really knew what was going on, everybody just stared at their television sets in complete shock. The officers, the newscasters, the whole world was getting conflicting information ranging from the number of the deceased to the number of shooters or even if the maintenance people on the roof that day were suspects or just plain maintenance people.

“Columbine became famous that day, for all the wrong reasons.” Craig Scott, survivor of the shootings.

After the horrendous event ended, 12 students and one teacher were dead, and the two shooters were deceased as well. There doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason for the victims that passed that day but each of them had a story to tell and a life to live.

In loving memory of those who left us too early by the hands of somebody else.

Cassie Bernall

Born Nov. 6, 1981

A born-again Christian as of two years before the shooting, it was believed that she was the victim that said “yes” to the shooter(s) when asked “Do you believe in God?” Whether it was 100 percent true or not, this story inspired more Christianity and it was the most honorable way to die, according to her mother. Cassie was laid to rest in Golden, Colorado in a white coffin so that attendees of her funeral could sign and give her messages to follow her into heaven.

Steve Curnow

Born Aug. 28, 1984

Close with his mom and dad, he dreamed of being a Navy top gun pilot. He became a soccer referee at the age of 11 and refereed alongside his dad during most games. He was a huge "Star Wars" fan and was awaiting the release of "Star Wars I: the Phantom Menace" which would happen about a month after the shootings. Science Fiction fans nationwide put together a "Star Wars" memorial day in his honor, on the day of the release.

Corey DePooter

Born March 3, 1982

A hard-working former wrestler who valued schoolwork over everything else. His friends said “he was the kind of guy people like to be around. I know I sure did, Corey was always able to pick our spirits up in a gloomy situation.” A year after his death, the Marine Corps held a ceremony in his honor making him an honorary Marine because he had dreamed of becoming a Marine after graduation.

Kelly Fleming

Born Jan. 6, 1983

She had recently moved to Littleton, Colorado, 18 months before the shooting occurred. She was learning to drive and wanted to get a job at a nearby daycare center and save money up for a Mustang or even a Corvette. She longed to be a published author and even entered writing contests. Two months before the attack, she came home to her mom and said: “Mom, I’m not shy anymore.”

Matt Kechter

Born Feb. 19, 1983

A sturdy, 210-pound sophomore, who played football, both offensive and defensive lines. A man that was never sad, he was always carrying a smile on his face. A straight A student, but never bragged about it. The University of Colorado, where Matt wanted and planned to attend after graduation) sent Adam, Matt's younger brother, one of their jersey's with Matt's name and the jersey number 70. The next football season was dedicated to his honor. They won the state championship that year, and Adam Kechter received the championship trophy in Matt's honor. In September 1999, he was accepted into the National Honor Society.

Daniel Mauser

Born June 25, 1983

Daniel was an excellent math and science student who had received the “Stretch for Excellence” award, which means he was the top biology student of the sophomore class at Columbine. He was also accepted into the National Honor Society. He had volunteered at the Swedish Hospital and was preparing for his Confirmation in the Catholic Church, which would have occurred two weeks after the shootings. He brought up information about loopholes in the Brady Bill, and the weapon used in the shootings that day in April, was bought through one of those loopholes he had pointed out.

Daniel Rohrbough

March 2, 1984

He enjoyed computer games and anything involving electronics. He was always offering a helping hand whether it be to his dad in his stereo business or helping his grandfather in his wheat harvesting farm. He saved up his money from working to buy his family members Christmas presents that past Christmas. There was a lot of controversy over his death, with law enforcement. The concrete slab he lay on is now part of a porch swing in his family's house. He was known as "the boy who held the door open," and witnesses didn't support it, but his family and friends still believed the notion.

Rachel Scott

Born Aug. 5, 1981

A person who stood strong for what she believed in, no matter what. She was a very spiritual person who often addressed God in her diaries about wanting to “reach the unreached.” The morning of the shootings, she drew a picture of an eye crying 13 tears falling into a rose, which happens to coincide with the same number of victims from that day. Many people have said, “She was just one of those kinds of people you know you won’t ever meet again. She was the kind of person only born once.” Her car sat in the parking lot of the school, as a makeshift memorial for friends and family to leave flowers, notes and just simply gather around to mourn the loss of her.

Isaiah Shoals

Born Aug. 4, 1980

A comedian, a young man who wanted to continue his career and produce music just like his father. The principal Frank DeAngelis said his class would compete to do group projects with Isaiah. Racial remarks were said to him right before he died in the attacks, so that led many people to believe the attacks were racially motivated, but Isaiah was the only African-American killed or even injured in the events that occurred that day. Martin Luther King III (the son of Martin Luther King, Jr.,) spoke during his funeral.

John Tomlin

Born Sept. 1, 1982

A native of Wisconsin, he worked after school at a nursery hauling trees, and he was a major part of a church youth group. On the day he died, he left his Bible on the dashboard where he had left it, in hope that just simply seeing that, would bring that person closer to God. He enjoyed trucks and love church. He once drove all the way down to Mexico to assist in building a house for a poor family. His beloved truck was turned into a makeshift memorial in the school parking lot, for flowers, notes and family members to meet around. He was buried back in his hometown of Waterford, Wisconsin.

Lauren Townsend

Born Jan. 17, 1981

The captain of the girl’s volleyball team, a member of the National Honor Society and was a candidate for valedictorian of her graduating class. She volunteered her time at an animal shelter and had the plan to study biology at college after she graduated from Columbine. She died protecting her friends, especially Val Schnurr—she put her arm around her, pulled her close and told her everything would be all right. She was buried in a white coffin, so attendees could write her messages that would follow her into heaven.

Kyle Velasquez

Born May 5, 1982

A gentle giant at six feet tall and 230 pounds, he wouldn’t even harm a fly and enjoyed doing chores and family activities. Only a couple weeks before the attacks, Kyle would have been heading home at the time of the shooting. He loved computers, so when the shooters came into the library, he was too frightened or confused with the chaos and noise, he didn’t have a chance to hide. He was buried with military honors in Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado, since his father was a Navy veteran. His family was given the flag from his coffin and the flag that was flown at half-mast in his honor at the state capital.

William ‘Dave’ Sanders

Born Oct. 22, 1951

A teacher for 25 years and the coach of the girls basketball and softball teams. He was married and had 4 children and 5 grandchildren. The cafeteria was empty when the gunmen made it there, 100’s of lives were saved that day because of Coach Dave. He was the hero that day. The students that were locked in the science classroom with him used a sign “1 BLEEDING TO DEATH” to try to get medical help up to him. After his death, he has had a softball field and a scholarship named after him in honor of his memory and received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage.

Whether you blame the shooters' parents or the media or video games or whatever you blame, just keep in mind that we lost 13 beautiful souls that cloudy day in April 1999. Each of them had a story to tell and their parents are still telling their stories 17 years after the terrible infamous attacks at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.

Please take a minute out of your day to say a prayer for the families this event impacted.