APRIL 20, 1999 - LITTLETON, COLO.
'Healing bear' arrives to help in Littleton Associated Press
LITTLETON — A special teddy bear that has comforted mourners in Oklahoma City and Montoursville, Pa., has arrived to help those grieving over the Columbine massacre.
Teddy bears are an easily identifiable symbol of comfort for youth after disasters, psychologists say.
This beige bear — known only as the "healing bear" — was originally sent to Oklahoma City by an unknown donor to comfort victims' relatives and others after the 1995 bombing.
After the July 1997 crash of TWA Flight 800, Oklahoma City residents mailed the bear to Montoursville, Pa., Area Senior High School. Sixteen students, a teacher and four chaperones from Montoursville died in the explosion while on a French Club trip to Paris.
Pinned to the bear's chest was this note:
"This bear was sent to the people of Oklahoma City after the bombing in 1995. He was meant to help comfort and heal. He has done well here. I now send him to you to continue his job."
Two weeks ago, two student gunmen stormed Columbine High School with guns and bombs, killing 12 students and a teacher and wounding 23 others before killing themselves.
Soon after the shooting, a massive makeshift memorial formed at a park near the school. Flowers, banners and wooden crosses were laid at the site to honor the dead.
On Tuesday, a package containing the bear arrived in Littleton, with an attached note from Montoursville:
"The people of Oklahoma City sent this bear to Montoursville High School following the crash of TWA Flight 800. He has done well here also. The Montoursville Area Senior High School passes this bear to you to continue his job. God Bless and we are with you."
The bear will stay at Chatfield High School — where Columbine students are attending because their school remains a crime scene — before moving to Columbine when students return in the fall.
Montoursville school officials could not be reached for comment Thursday, but their counterparts six states away said the gesture left them in tears.
They hope the bear will stay for good.
"What we hope is that we don't have to send it anywhere else," said Jefferson County schools spokeswoman Marilyn Saltzman.
May 7, 1999
E-mail this story to a friend | Printer-friendly version
Copyright 2001 The Daily Camera. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution, or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of The Daily Camera is expressly prohibited. Users of this site are subject to our User Agreement. You may also read our Privacy Policy. Comments? Questions? Suggestions? E-mail us at webmaster@thedailycamera.com.
|
BACKGROUND
Jefferson County sheriff's report Full index of the shooting News from the five days following the shootings Reconstruction of the shooting TimelineLocation the schoolFloorplanWeapons used
|
|
AUDIO
'Friend of Mine' Listen to the Columbine Memorial song sung by Columbine students Jonathan and Stephen Cohen.
911 tapes
Interview with Arun Ghandi |
|
PHOTOS
A Daily Camera photo essay detailed the tragedy of April 20 and the recovery and remembrance in the following weeks: photo essay
|
|
INTERACT
With the recent rise in school violence, do you feel schools are still safe? vote here
|
|
THE INVESTIGATION
Man pleads innocent to helping Columbine killers get weapons Relatives angry about handling of case Parents of Columbine killer seek to limit evidence access Investigators meet with Harris' parents CHS investigators focus on computers FBI investigator's son linked to case Killer reportedly took Luvox antidepressant Detectives question shooter's girlfriend Bombs found in cafeteria Portraits of the killers Killer's diary describes plot of hate |
|
SCHOOL VIOLENCE
Teenager threatens classmates Students accused of plotting shooting Violence in Georgia School violence stuns nation Teen wounds six fellow students Teens charged in alleged school attack plot Michigan teenagers charged in plot Other school shootings 1927 school bombing killed nearly 40 children Suspensions, arrests across country La. school site of another shooting Facts: Death in schools 'Blood in the School Yard', from the Cincinnati Post full series |
|
REACTION
Time: Duo sought immortality Aftershocks continue to hit Columbine Columbine lawsuits multiply High schools' 'cult of the athlete' under scrutiny
Parents of Columbine shooters sued Columbine spurs interest in home schools Columbine healing fund raises $2.3 million CU frat shows support for Columbine 'Healing bear' arrives to help in Littleton Doctors: Guilt a normal reaction for survivors Media the message? Broomfield couple campaigns to 'Erase the Hate' What now? |
|
GUNS AND LAW
Inaction on gun control could prompt ballot issues Democrats say they'll carry gun laws favored by Owens Owens says tougher laws wouldn't have prevented tragedy State senator plans to revive bill on concealed-handguns Despite pressure, more gun control measures unlikely Columbine dad lobbies Washington Senate passes more gun controls Columbine killers also wounded the NRA Senate rejects any new restrictions on gun-show sales
Gun control strife Leaders scrap gun bills Guns and legislatures |
|
HOW TO HELP
A drive has been established to raise money for a memorial for the victims of the Columbine High School tragedy. Contributions may be mailed to the Columbine Memorial Fund, c/o The Jefferson Foundation, 809 Quail St., Building 1, Lakewood, CO 80215.
|