DEKALB – The annual wreath-laying ceremony at Northern Illinois University’s Peaceful Reflection Garden is to honor the five students killed Feb. 14, 2008, but it also serves as an opportunity for those who lived through that day to remember it together.
On Wednesday, hundreds of people encircled the garden, which features memorial stones for Ryanne Mace, Julianna Gehant, Daniel Parmenter, Catalina Garcia and Gayle Dubowski.
At 3:06 p.m., a bell began to toll.
“I work at the hospital, so I was there when this all occurred,” Kim Bourdages said. “We’re never going to forget.”
Laurel Dubowski, mother of Gayle Dubowski who was killed during the shooting in 2008, lays flowers on the memorial stones Wednesday, Feb. 14 in the Peaceful Reflection Garden outside of Cole Hall on the campus of Northern Illinois University. The observance marks the 10 year anniversary of the shooting that claimed the lives of five students. Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.com
(Cutline: Linda Greer, (left) mother of victim Daniel Parmenter, and Laurel Dubowski, mother of victim Gayle Dubowski, embrace after laying wreaths on the memorial stones of their children Wednesday.)
Bourdages still works in Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital’s emergency room, but the other two first responders standing with her at the ceremony have since retired.
Lisa Miller was a DeKalb police officer in 2008; Drew Wells was a DeKalb firefighter.
“They (the victims) deserve to be remembered,” Miller said.
Wells said he became close with several of the victims’ families after the tragedy.
The five students were killed when a lone gunman opened fire during a lecture in an oceanography class at NIU’s Cole Hall. Seventeen others were injured in the gunfire before the shooter killed himself.
Ten years later, and about the same time – shortly after 3 p.m. – the victims’ families, friends and loved ones walked to the garden, as the crowd that had gathered stood silently watching. Those who led the group paused at each memorial stone before reaching their relative’s name. They then laid down the wreaths.
(Cutline: People pay their respects during the remembrance Wednesday, Feb. 14 in the Peaceful Reflection Garden outside of Cole Hall on the campus of Northern Illinois University.)
NIU football coach Rod Carey stood with his assistant coach, Melvin Rice, before the ceremony began, and the two spoke little.
Carey said he attended the remembrance to honor the five and their families. He said that he respected how the NIU community came together then and continues to do so 10 years later.
Rice was a senior at the university at the time of the tragedy. He said he was walking near Cole Hall, coming from the football complex, when the shooting happened.
Laurel Dubowski, mother of Gayle Dubowski who was killed during the shooting in 2008, lays flowers on the memorial stones Wednesday, Feb. 14 in the Peaceful Reflection Garden outside of Cole Hall on the campus of Northern Illinois University. The observance marks the 10 year anniversary of the shooting that claimed the lives of five students. Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.com
(Cutline: Linda Greer (left) and Gary Parmenter, mother and father of victim Daniel Parmenter, lay a wreath on his memorial stone Wednesday the Peaceful Reflection Garden outside of Cole Hall on the campus of Northern Illinois University.)
The victims’ families declined to speak to the news media Wednesday, but it was clear they had formed a tight-knit community among themselves in the decade that has passed. Before attendees began to disperse, they embraced each other and smiled through the tears.
The mood lightened as those who had gathered joined the families in front of the memorial stones. A line to lay additional bouquets, crosses, hearts and notes stretched beyond the courtyard.
“A lot of people,” one family member audibly remarked as he walked from the garden.
A group of students who survived the attack stood in a cluster and hugged one another often.
Current students, NIU faculty, survivors’ families and members of the community also gathered to remember and think forward. Many reminisced about where they were the day of the shooting.
The university held events leading up to Wednesday’s wreath laying, which also offered people opportunities to reflect.
The events were held to allow people a space to honor the victims and the tragedy’s place in the university’s history, as well as reflect on the resiliency of the community, Dean of Students Kelly Wesener Michael previously said.
(Cutline: Victims families, along with current and former NIU students and staff members lead the line of people paying their respects during the remembrance Wednesday.)
Michael also serves as associate vice president for student affairs.
“The events have provided a lot of different opportunities, and people have participated in ways they felt meaningful to them,” Michael said. “We want to make sure we honor those we lost, and that the families and students impacted know they are forever part of the Huskie family.”
Additionally, Mace, Gehant, Parmenter, Garcia and Dubowski are remembered in the forms of Forward, Together Forward scholarships. More than 1,800 donors have given more than $745,000 to support the fund.
Gary Parmenter, father of victim Daniel Parmenter who was killed in the shooting in 2008, receives condolences from Cherilyn Murer, former chairwoman of the NIU Board of Trustees, Wednesday, Feb. 14 in the Peaceful Reflection Garden outside of Cole Hall on the campus of Northern Illinois University. The observance marks the 10 year anniversary of the shooting that claimed the lives of five students. Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.com
Linda Greer, (left) mother of victim Daniel Parmenter, and her husband Bob Greer (second from left) stand by the memorial stone for Daniel during the remembrance Wednesday, Feb. 14 in the Peaceful Reflection Garden outside of Cole Hall on the campus of Northern Illinois University. The observance marks the 10 year anniversary of the shooting that claimed the lives of five students. Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.com