The community of Perry showed their support during an event on Saturday with the one year mark of the high school shooting.

The Perry Ministerial Association held a hope and healing service that saw several church pastors share a few words of encouragement. The program began with Pastor Kimberly Belken that welcomed everybody and lit three blue candles. She commented that one represented the lives that were lost on January 4th, 2024, another one was for the individuals who survived, and the last one was for a beacon of hope and healing. Reverend Donald Keeler from St. Martins Episcopal Church then took the stage to read a poem about resiliency.

Father Litto from Perry’s St. Patrick’s Catholic Church read a phrase from 14th century English Theologian Julian of Norwich that was quoted as “All shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” First Christian Church Senior Pastor Andrea Brownlee then addressed the audience and said that unfortunately that Perry is “no stranger to heartache,” but followed up by emphasizing that for the eight years she’s served in the area, the community has never faltered, then read a synopsis from Irish Poet John O’Donohue. The song Amazing Grace was played on a flute, and the service ended with prayer over the community as they continue to heal.