Story by Alexis Schindler, Staff writer

A commemorative ceremony was held at Mike Miller Park in Draffenville, Kentucky, on Jan. 23, in remembrance of the Marshall County High School shooting that took place one year ago.

The event, given the official name “A Night of Healing & Remembrance,” was coordinated by Marshall County’s Facilitators of Community Unity and Support organization.

The ceremony began at 6 p.m. in one of Miller Park’s lower parking lots.

As attendees of the ceremony were arriving, they were provided orange glow sticks.

Orange is one of Marshall’s school colors, and blue and orange have been colors of support for the community throughout the past year.

“This is another way for the people of Marshall County to come together, support one another and stand side by side when bad things happen,” Irene Edwards, Marshall County resident from Fairdealing, Kentucky, said. “It was such a tragedy, and I feel for the family of the boy who did this. It changed their lives and all of our lives forever.”

The ceremony opened with a word of prayer. Next, Tim Bertram of Tim Bertram’s Art/God’s Graffiti Ministry came to the stage to say a few words before he created a piece of artwork before the audience’s eyes.

“I can’t stand here in front of you and say I understand or I know what some of you are going through, because I don’t,” Bertram said. “I was indirectly affected by this because I have friends, youth pastors and fellow ministers that have been impacted by this. I can tell you this with assurance, there is a hope in Christ that will get us through. There is a hope that only comes from Jesus.”

Bertram read Romans 8:18-25 from the Bible, as it is a passage of hope and joining together. He followed this with the recreation of a piece of his own artwork which he titled “Smile.”

Bertram said his inspiration for the piece came to him after he was diagnosed with leukemia several years ago and came across the scripture Zephaniah 3:17.

“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in his love, He will joy over thee with singing,” the verse reads.

After the exhibition of Bertram’s art, Cody Myers, a local musician, performed a song he and Reidland Church of Christ’s Brian Brophy wrote. The piece was inspired by the shooting, and it is titled “Together We’re Strong.”

“There is strength in unity,” Myers said. “As you listen to the words tonight, I challenge you to think both of how we can remain strong together as a community and a body of believers, but also as individuals and within us strong together with Christ.”

To end the ceremony, two Chinese lanterns were released.

One lantern was blue and the other orange; another representation of Marshall County High School’s colors.

After the ceremony, attendees were encouraged to gather at one of the pavilions for hot coffee, tea, hot chocolate and baked goods, which were provided by local Marshall County churches.

Attendees also had the opportunity to speak with a counselor or pastor throughout the evening, if they wished.