The lights flashed off in the Kibbie dome as over 1,000 people lit their phones towards the distant upper box where the families of the victims sit. The only sound through the stadium were the gongs of the bell as the names of each of the victims were read out for a moment of silence for each of them.
“What you are feeling is real,” Blaine Eckles, dean of students at the University of Idaho. “…and it’s okay to have those feelings. I have them too”
Eckles was the first of many speakers at the vigil inside the iconic Vandal football stadium, where over 1,000 people gathered to say goodbye and to mourn the victims, including the families of the students.
“That’s the most important message that we have for you and your families,” said Stacy Chapin, Ethan Chapin’s mother “Make sure they spend as much time as possible with those people because time is precious and it’s something you can’t get back.”
Chapin was a triplet, whose two siblings still attend UI. Stacy Chapin also said that their family was just like any other, but that their family had each other’s backs, no matter what.
Kaylee Goncalves’ father, Steven Goncalves, told the story of Kaylee and Maddie, who were best friends since the sixth grade.
“They came here together,” Steven Goncalves said. “They eventually get into the same apartment together. And then they die together in the same room, in the same bed… The beauty of those two always being together is something that will bring comfort to us to know that they were with their best friends in the whole world.”
Steven Goncalves also spoke about how terrifying it is, as a father, to lead his daughter through life it was, and that the eighth wonder of the world should be the relationship between a father and a daughter.
Ben Mogen, Maddie Mogen’s father, said his life was entirely described by his daughter.
“Ever since she was first born and when I meet people, I always say you know tell me about yourself,” Ben Mogen said. “The first thing I’d say is well, I have this daughter and here’s a picture of her. She’s on the Dean’s list at college and she’s worked hard, and she has all these great friends in the sorority and she’s you know, I just would tell him all about Maddie.”
Ben Mogen also spoke about how hard of a worker his daughter was, with stories of his daughter swooping in to help her mother with her hotel business, cleaning rooms after her mother had to fire her cleaning staff.
Ben Mogen also was mourning his daughter’s future, saying that one day, it seemed like, she might have married her boyfriend.
Xana Kernodle’s family was not able to attend the vigil. Her funeral in her hometown is scheduled for Friday.
During the moments of silence, the only things that could be heard were the bells and the cry of a child in the distance.
At the very close of the vigil, local pastor Karla Neumann Smiley gave a prayer for the Moscow community.
“As we go from this place, help us heal,” Smiley said. “Give us rest and give us continued compassion for one another.”
The vigil was held in conjunction with vigils across the state, as well as several online initiatives to support the vandal community.
“Reach out to us the support resources,” Eckles said. “Lean on one another.”
Abigail Spencer can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @ABairdSpencer
Sharon Elliott
It was a beautiful vigil in remembrance of 4 beautiful lives.