A memorial ride and candlelight vigil will be happening in Barrow County this Saturday to honor the victims one day after the one-month anniversary of the tragic Sept. 4 shooting at Apalachee High School.
The event organizers, Kris Llewellyn and Stacy Sims said in their Facebook event posting that all are welcome and that their Jeep club, “Jeep Girls Mafia” will lead a police convoy from the Target in Bethlehem to Apalachee High School.
Some of Llewellyn’s coworker’s kids were at the school when the shooting happened, which is what made her start planning the event.
“I’d really love to do something that helps the kids because I know how bad the kids are hurting, and the families are hurting,” Llewellyn said.
The meeting time is set for 7 p.m. and the convoy will leave at 7:30 p.m.
The convoy is made up of “four or five” Barrow County Sheriff’s Office deputies who volunteered according to Llewellyn.
They are also inviting students and participants to create signs in honor of those affected.
Upon arrival at the high school, a spot will be marked to leave signage and flowers to build a memorial wall for the students and staff to see when they come back to school.
The event will cap at the high school with a moment of silence and an alumni from Apalachee High School will play “Amazing Grace” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” on his clarinet.
Then, four paper lanterns — one for each victim — will be released.
Llewellyn said as of now they are expecting 600-700 people to be in attendance.
Candles will be provided for everyone who attends and a short moment of silence will be held.
The event is one day after the one-month anniversary so as to not interfere with Apalachee High School’s first home football game back on Friday.
The Facebook event posting can be found here and the address of the Target is 916 Loganville Hwy., Bethlehem, Georgia.
“I really just hope that the kids for the school and the community and the families and everybody knows that we’re there for them and that they have a really strong community backing, and they’re never alone when they’re going through this,” Llewellyn said.
