FHS shows support for shooting victim throught Valentines

By Aaron Engebretson

School and church are sometimes two of the only remaining safe havens left in the world.

Imagine both of these safe zones being shattered in an instant. On Dec. 1, this is exactly what happened when freshman Michael Carneal of Heath High School in Paducah, Kentucky, walked up to a group of praying students took a .22 caliber Ruger from his back pack and shot eight students, killing three.

One of the five injured students was Melissa Jenkins, president of Heath High School’s FHA. Jenkins was paralyzed from the waist down by one of Carneal’s bullets.  Jenkins life was changed forever — she would never again be able to run or even walk up a flight of stairs.

The FHS chapter of FHA first received information about Jenkins’ condition about two weeks ago. To boost her spirits and let her know that people were thinking of her, FHA decided to begin an e­mail correspondence and to send Valentines to Jenkins.

“It is really sad because a kid was able to go into a school crowd and shoot them,” said senior Allison Fitzpatrick. “The students were in a prayer circle and because of (Jenkins’) beliefs, she is now paralyzed.”

FHA sent off the Valentines last Tuesday, in hopes that the cards will reach Jenkins in time for Valentine’s Day. FHA decided to take up this project because they wanted Jenkins to know that people across the country are thinking about her and wishing her the best of luck.

FHA members are not the only ones who are pulling for Jenkins and the others injured in the shooting. Several FHS students have been wearing bracelets with three white beads on them as a memorial for the three girls who died in the shooting.

“(The bracelets) are in memory of the three girls who were shot in Kentucky,” said senior Leslie DeBaldo. “I still wear it to remind me of the one who is still in the hospital.”

Heath High School was like any other high school anywhere in the country until that fateful day on Dec. 1. That day may have been forgotten by most of the country, but Flathead’s FHA and other concerned students still remember those shots that changed many people’s lives.

“I hope (the experience) doesn’t cut her down,” said  Fitzpatrick. “I know what kind of person it takes to be in FHA and we wanted to let her know that we’re sorry.”

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