Columbine: Five Years Later
A neighborhood remembers the past, looks to the future
by William Moore
The Metropolitan
(Photos by William Moore)
Littleton, Colo. had always seemed like an ideal neighborhood. A safe, non-threatening, suburban environment to raise kids.
On April 20, 1999, two Columbine High School students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold changed all that.
Five years later, students, family, friends and neighbors gathered near the school to remember the thirteen who lost their lives that spring day. A bell chimed in honor of each of the victims. At the end, there was a candle-light vigil.
Despite the prevailing evening breezes, the candles burned on.
(Photos by William Moore)
For those who were directly affected by the shootings, the events of five years ago were not yet far enough removed. They expressed their need, however, to move on, to remember those lost, but not to forget that life does indeed, go on.
They expressed their discontent with the media coverage over the last five years. They were tired of their community being synonymous with the word "tragic." They wished that their high school were less famous, that people would just forget.
But such things are not so easily forgotten.
(Photos by William Moore)
Top: Stephanie Moore, 21, and her husband bow their heads during ceremonies at Clement Park held in honor of the fifth anniversary of the events at Columbine High School in Littleton. Moore was a student at Columbine when the shootings happened. Left: Caitlin Bell, 16, and her boyfriend Kenneth Lawson, 16, both students at Columbine High School, hold each other during a speech given during ceremonies April 20. Above: Sue Townsend hugs a loved one before the start of the ceremonies. She is the stepmother of Lauren Townsend, who was killed 5 years ago in the Columbine shootings.
(Photos by William Moore)
Top left: Columbine student Cassie Smith, 15, gets emotional during ceremonies held April 20 in Clement Park. Top right: Sister Johnson, left, and Sister Nuttal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints re-light a candle after it was blown out during a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of the events at Columbine. Above: Jasmine Greenfield, left, and her best friend Jen Ribble, both 19-year-old graduates of Columbine, huddle close to keep their candles lit.
(Photos by William Moore)
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