A Hero to Remember
Credit: Facebook
March 1, 2018
Valentine’s Day is a day dedicated to love. However, this Valentine’s Day was a day of tragedy and heartbreak to many people across the nation. In the afternoon of February 14th, a mass school shooting occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida. Seventeen people were killed and fourteen others were hospitalized. Among those numbers was Scott Beigel, a 35-year-old geography teacher and cross-country coach who opened up his classroom to students so they could come inside and seek shelter and shielded them from the shooter. As he was pulling the last child in the room, Scott was shot in the back and later taken to the hospital where he died.
During his summers, Beigel spent his time at Camp Starlight in Pennsylvania, where he worked as a division leader for senior boys. Dani Sunshine (’18) was a camper at Camp Starlight and knew Beigel personally. “Scott was a mentor and a role model, as his wits and humor made everyone laugh and smile,” Sunshine said.
Many people believe Scott Beigel was a hero even before the tragedy occurred. According to the Huffington Post, Beigel’s father said, “Scott’s heroism was not that instant. Scott’s heroism was his entire life.” His mother also said that her son’s actions last week did not surprise her. “Those were…his life rules. You take care of the people around you,” she said.
On Tuesday, February 20th, Parkland held a a cross country “Run 4 Beigel” at Pine Trails Park, where over 800 people in the Parkland Community gathered to remember MSDHS’s beloved hero. A memorial for Beigel will be held next Sunday, March 4th. The memorial is called “A Celebration of Life” and is for Scott’s family and friends. “We will be sharing stories, singing camp songs, and reminiscing about Scott and all that he did for us,” Sunshine said.
Although his life ended tragically, Beigel’s bravery and courage that he showed on Valentine’s Day was heartwarming and a true act of heroism in a horrible situation.
