Day 2 of the "2 Days...2 Minutes" event at Los Gatos High School was very emotional. As described in Part I, seven students and one teacher were tapped to represent lives lost to drunk driving and other poor decisions. In many ways, their absence hit home for their families, friends, students, teachers, and life safety professionals, even though everyone knew it was only a demonstration.
The "living dead" were taken off campus Monday morning and spent the night in a guest house in Santa Cruz. They spent the time writing and rehearsing their obituaries, under the direction of Virginia Jones and Christine Gonzales of American Medical Response (AMR).
As the second day began with the "dead" students missing, the wrecked car display was back on the lawn, along with one of Los Gatos' paramedic fire engines. The senior assembly began at 10:30. On stage, a lone casket was spotlighted. Boxes of tissues were placed up and down the aisles. Something very serious was about to begin. Shortly after the audience was seated, a somber procession entered, led by a local minister, Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Chief Scott Seaman, and Santa Clara County Fire Department Captain Jason Falarski. They were followed by the "living dead," their parents, and police, medical and other emergency teams and community leaders.
Assistant Principal Scott Downs read a Statement of Purpose and students Hilary Humphries, Natalie McDonald, and Julie Thomas sang "To Where You Are."
Police Chief Seaman gave a very emotional speech that even brought tears to his eyes, reflecting on past years in which he encountered young members of our communities who died unnecessarily from substance and alcohol related crashes. He noted that excessive speed, failure to use a seatbelt, and cell phones and other distractions, also contribute to these tragedies.
The next speaker was Captain Jason Falarski of the Santa Clara County Fire Department, Los Gatos High School class of 1990. He, too, was very emotional and shared his experience of having classmates die from auto crashes.
"I was there for the Brandon Silvera accident and we even had one kid from my class die as a result of an alcohol and drug-related accident," Falarski told the seniors. "Every year since, our community has lost or had people experience life-altering injuries from accidents involving drugs and alcohol. This does not need to happen. These decisions are made, and you guys are the ones who can make them. In one instant, the sound of laughing and partying with your friends can change into the crushing sound of metal and the screaming cry of a mother that has lost her child. In my 14 years in the fire department, I have seen the tragedies that occur. I have seen the high school kids involved in drug and alcohol-related accidents. I have seen people that I went to high school with make these same bad decisions, and I have seen the mother cry as she holds her lifeless baby because their afternoon bike ride was shattered due to a drunk driver. Senior Class of 2008--follow your dreams, don't let this happen to you. These can be the best times of your life. Don't let drugs and alcohol ruin your dreams. These times with your friends cherish them. As we grow, our dreams become reality. Senior prom, senior sneak day, graduation, and grad night. These times are the best in your life. Live for them. Imagine no prom, the empty seat during graduation. The senior trip with one less. College dreams shattered. The excitement of a new career gone, and your father not having the daughter to walk down the aisle on her wedding day. You guys are the ones who can change this. Embrace your friends. Tell your parents that you love them. Together lets stop these tragedies in this community that we all love."
A few students read the obituaries that they had written about themselves and said goodbye to their family and friends. Parents followed, reading testimonials about how much they miss their loved ones and lamenting the unnecessary tragedy of their "death." One parent said that he lost his father 40 years ago to drunk driving, and now he has "lost his only son." Tears flowed down his face, as a very solemn audience heard his story. Many of the boxes of tissues were put to use. Trained grief counselors were on hand during both days.
Next, a video enactment of the "accident" that killed the students and teacher was shown. Local police officers and firemen and medical emergency teams took part in the video. Everything was so lifelike that it was easy to imagine that it was real. Accolades go to Artin Soroosh, for his part in playing the drunk student driver. On the video, Artin showed how his senses had left him and how little physical control he had of himself, as the policeman, Sergeant J. R. Langer, administered a sobriety test. The audience could see the traits of impairment, such as swaying while balancing, using arms to balance, inability to touch his nose with his fingers, as well as, stopping and walking to maintain balance.
"It was truly an experience to do the video," Artin told the Observer. "I have never been in a police car, let alone thrown in the back seat while handcuffed." The 10-minute video was filmed in one day and edited in another.
Jazz Purr, the high school vocal group, then sang "Angel." The final speaker was Ben Winkelman, an outstanding athlete from LGHS class of 2000. He shared his experience of losing his close friend and classmate, Jeff Peckler, in 1997. Winkelman's friend was taken from him by a drunk driver whose pickup truck crossed the double yellow line and struck the Peckler's vehicle head on. Not only Jeff, but also Jeff's father, Jim, and sister, Jill, as well as the drunk driver's passenger, all died needlessly. He described the love he had for the family. Ben expressed how innocent victims are affected by those under the influence; those who lose their lives, and those who have to live with that memory.
Taps played as the audience left the auditorium. The event concluded with a luncheon in which both the audience and the participants discussed their shared two-day experience. Everyone was relieved that the "dead" were fine after all.
"Every crash comes down to individual decisions," Police Chief Seaman told the assembly. "One person's decision, made in a matter of moments, with the very real possibility of forever tragically affecting many others, often other family members and friends. And it seems especially tragic when it happens to someone so young.
"We all know that life is a series of choices, which have benefits and consequences. We make those choices sometimes based upon experience and guidance, other times on impulse. Driving while intoxicated is the wrong decision to make on impulse or when our judgment is impaired. The decision to not drive after drinking needs to be made ahead of time with the benefit of experience. We have all been given a gift these two days, the gift of experience without actually having to go through the true reality. This lesson can be the gift of a lifetime."
2 Days...2 Minutes….was held in memory of all those we have tragically lost, especially, and most recently, fellow classmate Tyler Barclay.
Credits
The students who participated in the event included: Bradford Anderson, Garrett Blackwell, Kelly Boland, Danielle Evangelista, Destinee Handy, Paul Politi, Artin Soroosh, Jennifer Toole and Taylor Katolin as the Grim Reaper. Teacher Steve Wong was also a victim, and teacher Adam Minyard was the other Grim Reaper.
Credit goes to Dana Krouskup and Kathy Bryant for their leadership in organizing this event in just 45 days. The goal was to reach the senior class, for they will be gone when the school goes back to the "Every 15 minutes" program. Various community groups and businesses contributed to the two-day event.
"Dana and I organized and co-chaired the program," Kathy Bryant told the Observer, "but we could not have done it without the help of many wonderful volunteers and the support of the Los Gatos High School Administration."
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