US marks 10 years since Columbine
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:19 am
US marks 10 years since Columbine
Events are being held to mark 10 years since the massacre at Columbine High School, where two former pupils killed 12 students and a teacher.
Hundreds of people attended a sunset vigil on Sunday at a park in Littleton, Colorado, many laying flowers at a memorial for those who died.
A private service for victims' families will take place later on Monday.
On 20 April 1999, teenager Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold rampaged through the school before shooting themselves dead.
More than 20 other people were injured during the incident, the worst high school massacre in US history.
Columbine High School will not open on Monday as a mark of respect for the victims.
Gun-law debate
The memorial event's organiser, Kirsten Kreiling, president of the Columbine Memorial Foundation, estimated more than a thousand people had attended the vigil.
“ From here on out we're really going to try to celebrate his life ”
Connie Sanders Daughter of victim
"It is a time for the community to come back together again as they did following the shootings 10 years ago," she said.
The daughter of the only teacher who died, Dave Sanders, said the anniversary marks the time to finally move on.
"We've spent 10 years every year remembering the day of his death. And I think from here on out we're really going to try to celebrate his life," said Connie Sanders.
The school's long-serving head teacher, Frank DeAngelis, who has vowed to remain in the job until every student who was in kindergarten on the day of the attack has graduated, will be among those attending Monday's service.
The Columbine massacre reignited a debate about gun-ownership laws in the US that still continues.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/w ... 007721.stm
Events are being held to mark 10 years since the massacre at Columbine High School, where two former pupils killed 12 students and a teacher.
Hundreds of people attended a sunset vigil on Sunday at a park in Littleton, Colorado, many laying flowers at a memorial for those who died.
A private service for victims' families will take place later on Monday.
On 20 April 1999, teenager Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold rampaged through the school before shooting themselves dead.
More than 20 other people were injured during the incident, the worst high school massacre in US history.
Columbine High School will not open on Monday as a mark of respect for the victims.
Gun-law debate
The memorial event's organiser, Kirsten Kreiling, president of the Columbine Memorial Foundation, estimated more than a thousand people had attended the vigil.
“ From here on out we're really going to try to celebrate his life ”
Connie Sanders Daughter of victim
"It is a time for the community to come back together again as they did following the shootings 10 years ago," she said.
The daughter of the only teacher who died, Dave Sanders, said the anniversary marks the time to finally move on.
"We've spent 10 years every year remembering the day of his death. And I think from here on out we're really going to try to celebrate his life," said Connie Sanders.
The school's long-serving head teacher, Frank DeAngelis, who has vowed to remain in the job until every student who was in kindergarten on the day of the attack has graduated, will be among those attending Monday's service.
The Columbine massacre reignited a debate about gun-ownership laws in the US that still continues.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/w ... 007721.stm