Pulling together

Community gathers to remember victims of cabin fire

By KELLY BRADISH
and EMILY REHRING
Collegian Staff Writers

HERNDON -- To honor the memory of 11 young people who died in a cabin fire March 22, the road to Line Mountain High School has been lined with gold and blue ribbons, the high school's colors.

Yesterday, residents wore similar ribbons during a memorial service at Line Mountain High School football field.

Hundreds of high school students and local residents sat quietly for almost two hours yesterday afternoon in the warm sun to listen to scripture, songs and prayers for the families and friends of Nick Berkey, 20; Erik Gray, 20; James Giliberti, 20; Chad Hain, 20; Jason Herrold, 20; Kip Snyder, 17; Amanda Wehry, 17; Toni Wehry, 21; Tyrone Wehry, 23; David Wiest, 20; and Tobias Wiest, 17.

Hundreds of mourners attended the funerals for the victims, which were held Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The 11 people died from carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from smoke inhalation in a Miles Township cabin fire more than a week ago. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

During yesterday's service, several local clergyman and friends of the victims spoke about their memories and the grieving process.

"A lot of people keep telling me that they're dead," Katrina Wiest, a friend of several of the victims, said during the service. "But I feel as long as we have memories, they'll never die."

Nicholas Wiest, a cousin of David and Tobias Wiest and a student at Line Mountain High School, shared memories of the two men such as their happy dispositions and tastes in music and clothes.

"I lost three classmates and two cousins," Wiest said, adding his classmate Amanda's "sassy" personality will not be forgotten.

Snyder added he appreciated the support Herndon received from the residents of Montoursville, the hometown of 16 high school students who died in TWA Flight 800 in July 1996. A choir from the Montoursville High School performed several songs during the service.

Aaron White, a young musician, wrote and performed a song in memory of those who died, titled "Where Have You Gone?"

After the song, each of the 11 names of the victims was read. As Alexander Menio, principal of Line Mountain High School, read the names, a bell rang and a classmate of each of the deceased placed a red rose in a wreath located in front of the crowd.

At the end of the service, the people who put the roses in the wreath gave a bouquet of red roses to the each of the families of the victims before leaving in a procession out of the stadium.

During the closing hymn, participants in the service also released red, black, blue and gold balloons into the sky as those in attendance filed out of the bleachers.

Line Mountain High School is planning a vigil sometime this week.