A year after the tragedy that happened at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, many people from the community want to make sure that their school and community aren’t solely defined by what happened that day. So we asked our readers this question: What’s one thing that happened this past year that you want Marysville-Pilchuck High School or the community to be remembered for?
Here are a few of the responses we received:
“The way that the school and the community came together. The best way to highlight that is the memorial fence put together in the days after the event. It really showed the love and care for one another, and the commitment in the school and community in standing together. It was a beautiful thing.”
— Jon Nehring, 45, Mayor of Marysville
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“The Drama teacher in me would put our production of ‘Disney’s Mary Poppins’ up there at the top, but I think Marysville-Pilchuck and the community will actually be remembered for really coming together during this time. From all of the businesses that donated time, food, furniture and more, to the parents who always asked how they could help, I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an outpouring of love from so many people.”
— Roy Klementsen, 50, MPHS drama and English teacher and 1983 MPHS graduate
“I want Marysville-Pilchuck to be remembered for our ability to be vulnerable in the hard times. And the strength that was born through that.”
— Alisha Purdom, 18, Marysville-Pilchuck
“For starters, I go to Marysville Getchell, (ISC) but I have been doing drama at MP since my freshman year (I’m a junior right now) which means that I’m at MP a lot more than you think. I remember my freshman year that MP and MG were rivals, where everyone though their school was better, and would always fight about which was better. After what happened at MP, we weren’t really rivals anymore, we were brought together and united as a team. There is always our competitive side, but everyone in each school is more friendly to each other. I haven’t heard anyone talk crap about each other’s school as much anymore. I want both schools to be remembered for that.”
— Elizabeth Price, 16, Marysville Getchell
“One thing that happened the past year that Marysville-Pilchuck High School should be remembered for is them coming together as a community. This community here in Marysville all came together when this terrible incident happened and helped Marysville-Pilchuck become MP Stronger. We will continue to be MP Stronger, never forgetting, but becoming stronger than the tragedy.”
— Victoria Willey, 16, Marysville-Pilchuck