Just thirty-five days after the shooting in Las Vegas, small town Sutherland Springs, Texas experienced a community wide tragedy. Was the rest of the country immune? The large outpouring of love and support for the victims of the Las Vegas shooting dwarfed the support received by those of the church ruthlessly attacked. Fewer “Pray for Texas” posts emerged on social media, it was as if the world looked at the numbers and decided it was not enough to fully mourn.
As someone born and raised in small town Texas, I know how hard it can be to lose just one member of your community. This community lost twenty-six people, a family almost completely gone, and more than half were children. These lives were taken with no regard for their future. Yet it feels like the world decided to move on. In times like this where tragedy seems to happen whenever we turn our heads, please do not be desensitized to it. Pour out love and support to those living through it, do not look at some places and say they deserved it because of what they support or do not support. I can assure you that the slaying of innocent children is support by no one present that day.
Be compassionate, even to those who do not share your morals or ideals. In the face of something this horrible the last thing people need is to feel like their life is used as example of an “I told you so.” Do not let these people feel forgotten. Build them up, support them and mourn with them — as the saying goes treat them as you would want to be treated — because this will not end for them tomorrow when the next big news item rolls in.
You do not have to donate blood or be there to help. Commemorate those lost in your own way. Send a prayer to the families, post something stating your support, do not perpetuate conversations that are harmful to these families, know the names of the victims, write a letter that you may never mail but that faces the tragedy of those lost and living. Do not let the name of who did this outweigh the importance of the lives he took. No one should have to go through this, especially not children. Be diligent in your life and make a difference no matter how small. The difference starts with us.
In remembrance of those lost and effected, my heart goes out to you.
Robert Scott Marshall
Karen Sue Marshall
Keith Allen Braden
Tara E. McNulty
Annabelle Renae Pomeroy
Peggy Lynn Warden
Dennis Neil Johnson Sr.
Sara Johns Johnson
Lula Woicinski White
Joann Lookingbill Ward
Brooke Bryanne Ward
Robert Michael Corrigan
Shani Louise Corrigan
Therese Sagan Rodriguez
Ricardo Cardona Rodriguez
Haley Krueger
Emily Garcia
Emily Rose Hill
Gregory Lynn Hill
Megan Gail Hill
Marc Daniel Holcombe
Noah Holcombe
Karla Plain Holcombe
John Bryan Holcombe
Crystal Marie Holcombe and her unborn child
Carlin Brite Holcombe