Recovery is essential and important. Events happen, often situations out of our hands. That’s life, unfair and fault-filled as it may be. There are no guarantees and the best-laid plans may not become fulfilled.
Such is he aftermath in Aurora following the Friday, Feb. 15 mass shooting which led to a national perspective and community introspection. Thus, the term Aurora Strong.
It is widely known, and still does not reach a majority, that the reaction to five deaths at the Henry Pratt plant on the southwest side of Aurora, has been largely positive. Fundraisers, vigils, counseling, connections. We move on with our lives, however, ever mindful that our personal recollections of that fateful middle of the day will remain longer than most situations and our minds will drift to our connections. Five Aurora policemen were shot and taken to hospitals. The last policeman has been released from a hospital. The five are in the process of putting their lives back together. See below. The duration of recovery likely will be a longer time than we may realize, physical and psychological. Recover the five will find a way to accomplish, however long it takes.
There is more to the story. It is always such a process. It just may not be visible or common. We will find commonality among the residents and encouragement to rebuild, renew, and realign.
One personal story touches Sharon White, curator of the Neighborhood Activities on page 4 of The Voice each week.
She writes February 18 of that week: “Monday, my uncle on my dad’s side, passed away. Later Monday, my aunt on my mom’s side passed away. Friday, I was absolutely heartbroken to receive a message that my first cousin’s grandson, Trevor Wehnor (21 years old), was murdered in the Aurora mass shooting. Three funerals this week. May they all rest in peace.”
The eulogy is from the heart and understood by many of us. Trevor was a Northern Illinois University senior whose major was in human resource management and in his first day as an intern at Henry Pratt. The shooting took place in the human resource department, a lack of justice meted out by someone more than disgruntled, a 45-year-old male who had a history of trouble. The 21-year-old’s fate: Unfair, a cruel lottery in life, something that should not happen.
Reasons for all of us to count our blessings, regardless of problems, unfair fate, plans redirected ruthlessly. Our glass, in comparison, always must be half full.
The five injured Aurora officers: John Cebulski, 30 years of service with the Aurora Police Department (APD); James Zegar, 25 years with the APD; Reynaldo Rivera, 24 years; Marco Gomez, 13 years; Adam Miller, just less than four years. May we be ever grateful.
• As a diversion, may we suggest something mundane, yet, important as the West Aurora School District 129 Fine Arts Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 2. Students’ artwork lets us know that life goes on and order is on the way to being restored.