Memorializing Columbine

Abstract

On April 20, 1999, two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, armed with guns, knives, and bombs, terrorized Columbine High School, killing 13 individuals, wounding 24, and emotionally traumatizing thousands. The perpetrators then completed suicide. Moving beyond the tragic events of that day, this study focused on memorializing victims' lives. In particular, the planning of Columbine Memorial was considered from three committee leaders' perspectives. Supplementing their input, additional information was gathered from the memorial's official website and news articles describing related activities. This information is summarized, offering suggestions for planning permanent memorials and facilitating grief.

Comforting children and families who grieve: Incorporating spiritual support

“…Although school-based mental health professionals desire to support traumatized children, specific barriers stand in the way of optimal service delivery. In addition to school-based mental health professionals lacking preparation for crisis intervention (Allen, Burt, et al, 2002;Allen, Jerome, et al, 2002;Nickerson & Zhe, 2004), following a tragedy professionals also seem ill-at-ease incorporating and encouraging students to utilize important religious and spiritual supports even when students and families spontaneously engage in these practices (Armstrong, 1991;Bingham et al, 2009;Miller & Thoresen, 2003). Despite these inhibitions, students and families continue to reach out to crisis team members, expressing a need for spiritual support during times of adversity (Heath, Bingham, & Dean, 2008;Silva & Klotz, 2006).…”

Healing after traumatic events: Aligning interventions with cultural background and religious and spiritual beliefs

“…Similar to other school tragedies, many Columbine students and families relied upon their R/S beliefs as they navigated through the healing process (Bingham et al, 2009). However, addressing R/S needs in schools to memorialize victims and honor survivors is not without controversy (Jerome, 2011).…”

“…Aside from lessons learned about school violence, this tragedy also offers insights into how schools and communities plan, permit and encourage/discourage options for temporary and permanent school memorials. Similar to other school tragedies, many Columbine students and families relied upon their R/S beliefs as they navigated through the healing process (Bingham et al, 2009). However, addressing R/S needs in schools to memorialize victims and honor survivors is not without controversy (Jerome, 2011).…”

“…In fact, no memorial was constructed because Amish community members considered the concept of memorials as exalting certain individuals over others-an act contrary to the Amish community's R/S beliefs. SBMHPs must also understand the ongoing process of grief and how this experience may be tempered or exacerbated by children's perceptions of life after death and connections to the deceased; their expression or repression of feelings related to R/S beliefs associated with grief; their desire to appropriately memorialize the tragedy and honor memories of the deceased (Bingham et al, 2009); their desire to respond to and align with spiritually supportive interventions, considering the acceptability of and familiarity with provided services; and their level of trust in SBMHPs and R/S leaders who offer spiritually supportive services. Table 1 lists the tasks of grief (Wolfelt, 2002) and how these tasks may be addressed in the context of children's R/S beliefs.…”

School-based support groups for traumatized students

“…Although their feelings should not be discounted, energy channeled in a more positive direction will facilitate adaptive coping and healing. One positive direction is to support students in honoring the life of the deceased (Bingham et al, 2009;Jerome, 2011). It is common among adolescents to become involved in creating temporary shrines, taking monetary collections to support surviving family members or to pay for a memorial, or planning and participating in an activity to remember the deceased.…”