By Eleanor Rice, Parent of Two Bronxville School Students

Mar. 21, 2018:  Three weeks ago, I received a message from Hannah Weirens, one of the increasing number of American students who have been inspired to take action on political issues affecting their community and their nation, even before they are able to vote. She was keen to get involved with the walk-out event I had set up for our Bronxville school district. I was glad to hand over the reins, enabling more students to be heard.

On Wednesday morning, March 14, Melissa Shinsato and I brought traveler boxes full of hot chocolate to The Bronxville School. We saw Kiki Shinsato, Melissa’s daughter, working with Hannah to coordinate the other students who were involved.

We set up the hot chocolate just in time. Middle school students began trickling out from the building, some shivering without their coats. Parents arrived, some with blankets and younger siblings. The trickle became a flood as high schoolers joined them; many wore orange in support of Everytown.org, others wore red, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school color.

At 10:00 am, before the hushed crowd, the SHA! Cappella choir sang “Stand By Me.”

Across the street stood people holding signs that read “Thank You” and “We Stand with You.” I later learned that our students’ tribute held a personal resonance for one of these spectators.

Kiki spoke on behalf of the Bronxville students: “We gather in solidarity with the Parkland survivors, who have kept this issue in the public eye, and in memory of those who passed away,” her voice echoing between the church and the school building. “We want Congress to pay attention and take note: many of us will vote this November; many others who can’t yet vote will flood the polls in 2020.”

The first in a line of seventeen students stepped forward. She read a short biography of Scott Beigel, 37, one of the teachers who lost his life protecting students on February 14. Each of the sixteen other students in the line read the name, age, and biography of one of the other sixteen whose lives were lost: Aaron Feis, 37; Chris Hixon, 49; Alyssa Alhadeff, 14; Martin Duque Anguiano, 14; Nicholas Dworet, 17; Jaime Guttenberg, 14; Luke Hoyer, 15; Cara Loughran, 14; Gina Montalto, 14; Joaquin Oliver, 17; Alaina Petty, 14; Meadow Pollack, 18; Helena Ramsey, 17; Alex Schachter, 14; Carmen Schentrup, 16; and Peter Wang, 15. A silence followed before Kiki announced that 17 minutes had passed.

I thanked Dr. Tom Wilson, the middle school principal, for his support of the event. He was proud of the students and was moved by their words and behavior, and he said there was no question that the school would be supportive. Police Chief Christopher Satriale had just spoken with a village resident, Allison Halloran, who lost her niece Gina Montalto in the MSD shooting, and she passed on her appreciation.

Ann Meyer, the high school principal, reached out to Kiki and Hannah, saying that she "wanted to make sure to tell you both how beautiful and moving the ceremony was that you organized. ... It was a powerful experience and I thank you so much for your hard work in making it happen."

Allison Halloran followed up her conversation with Chief Satriale with an email to Ms. Meyer: “I applaud you on educating students about the importance of using freedom of speech to effect change and for reminding the students of the reason for the walkout. … Please let your students know that I attended the ceremony and how pleased and moved I was by their respect for the lives we lost.”

Photos by A. Warner