Hamilton Hills Church held a prayer vigil on the evening of Oct. 25 at Hoosier Road Elementary where Fishers teachers, students and residents gathered to remember the lives of two Hamilton Southeastern Schools teachers.
Kristal Sergi, a Hoosier Road Elementary teacher, and Frank Sergi, a Fall Creek Intermediate art teacher, died Oct. 24. Hamilton Hills Church held the prayer vigil at Hoosier Road Elementary to mourn the two teachers.
Mayor Scott Fadness, State Sen. Jim Merritt, Prevail Executive Director Susan Ferguson and Hamilton Hills Church Pastor Mark Neal spoke prior to the crowd lighting candles and singing “Amazing Grace” and “How He Loves Us.”
“I encourage you tonight to not contemplate on the why or the fear or the anger, but pursue solace in your family, in your faith, in your friends, in your community,” Fadness said. “In doing so, perhaps we will create a stronger, better society, a better community, and by doing that, we will have perhaps paid honor to the tragedy that befell Fishers over the last 24 hours.”
Neal said his heart was broken for the victims and all who had been involved.
“The truth is nobody knows the exact answers to the question why,” Neal said. “That word can haunt you, and it can chase you forever, and I cannot tell you why, but I can tell you even in the midst of this tragedy, there is hope.”
Neal called life messy, and he said tragedy shows humans how much they need each other. He urged residents to pay attention to each other and be aware of each other. He also urged residents to have the boldness to speak to someone who seems hurt or to seek help if they are hurting.
“Tragedies like this must remind ourselves we cannot live this life alone,” he said. “This world is broken, and no matter who you are, we are all in the same boat dealing with the messiness of life.”
Hoosier Road Elementary and Fall Creek Intermediate cancelled classes Oct. 26. They also had cancelled classes Oct. 25.
