Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of the shooting that took place at LA Fitness in Collier. George Sodini took the life of 3 women, injured 9 more, and then took his own life. It was a sad and sickening day, and it’s turned into a moment that I’ll never forget, as well as many others.
The Post-Gazette.com posted an article re-counting some of the survivors thoughts as they were living through the horrifying experience, and how it’s affected them as the year has passed by:
“I had to do something,” said Jennifer Rose, 28, of Brookline, who hid in a closet when Mr. Sodini opened fire in a dance class and shot 12 women — killing three — before turning the gun on himself.
“It’s a part of me,” she said. “It always will be.”
As the exact time of the shooting approached, Ms. Rose left a candle outside the fitness center.
Twelve roses, each marked with a name, lay on the grass under a laminated card with a typed message: “My heart is heavy with so much grief still.”
Connie Moneck said she still had her sister’s phone number programmed into her phone, though Heidi Overmier, a 46-year-old single mother, died in the attack.
“I still go to pick up the phone to ask her for a recipe or ask her to do something,” Ms. Moneck said.
During the last few months, her tight-knit family has channeled its grief into a labor of love, planning and building a memorial outside Ms. Overmier’s church, First United Methodist Church of Bridgeville.
Wednesday, about 80 people — friends, family members, fellow victims and strangers — gathered near the church to dedicate the Heidi Overmier Memorial Prayer Garden.
“Everything our family does is together,” Ms. Moneck said.
Rege Schuchert, Ms. Overmier’s brother-in-law and a professional landscaper, built the memorial with the help of his nephews, traveling each day from North Huntingdon.
The stone cross, flanked by flower pots, sits off a cobblestone path in front of the church, a small waterfall spilling from its base.
“Isn’t it lovely?” asked Cathy Wanko, of Upper St. Clair, a church member. “The family did this.”
Ms. Overmier’s son, Ian, 16, returned from South Carolina for the service. Ms. Wanko said she had baked him a pecan pie.
“After the first year, you have an opportunity just to look back and really celebrate everything Heidi is and who she is,” said the Rev. Ed Saxman, who presided over the service. “If you knew Heidi, you loved Heidi.”
Ms. Overmier was an active member of the church, located on a quiet street off the Washington Pike, Rev. Saxman said. She attended classes there and produced the annual children’s Christmas play, writing original scripts and sewing costumes.
Ms. Overmier was her family’s “Angel of Steel,” said Ms. Moneck.
“Heidi was the most outgoing, bubbly, wonderful person,” she said, but also “hard as nails.”
Ms. Moneck said she hoped the memorial would become a place where people could come and reflect.
“It’s such a peaceful area,” she said.
Some gathered for the service wore black and white T-shirts printed with Ms. Overmier’s name and a quote from her son: “Without a plan, we plan to fail. God always has a plan, so as long as we stay with God, we have a plan for success.”
As Rev. Saxman read the quote, one woman traced the letters on her friend’s back.
“The pain and hurt remains for those of us left behind,” Rev. Saxman said.
One year later, and while some may forget over time, the people and families affected by the shooting will never be the same.
Thu, Aug 5, 2010
Daily, Events