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Memorial Ideas: Steve Schweitzfberger

The following document was created by Steve Schweitzfberger, the
father of a student who was in the school when the shooting began.
His daughter escaped unharmed
Steve spent Memorial Day on 'the hill' standing next to a cross to
try to get support for a permanent memorial there.

MEMORIAL DAY 1999 UPDATE: LEST WE EVER FORGET. What better day to consider the possibilities for a permanent memorial for Columbine? And I want the families of the dead, the families of the physically injured, and the students of Columbine, in that order exactly to decide. I spoke at a May 11 meeting of the Foothills Parks and Recreation Board. I mentioned several examples of religious and spiritual concepts regarding separation of church and state under our Constitutional provisions. It still does say IN GOD WE TRUST on our public currency; there is a Denver display during Christmas of a Nativity scene on public property with private finance. Ultimately, I suggested that the Columbine community purchase 1/4 acre of park or school property where 13 crosses once stood. This would allow our community to do whatever is decided a permanent memorial should include with no restrictions. I am not asking for money. I have several names of Columbine community members who will take deed of formerly parks property in their names, on behalf of a permanent memorial. Save your quarters for now. If ultimately a purchase is required, your saved quarters, for a quarter of an acre for Columbine, might be welcomed. Bill Potts is the Montbello, Colorado folk artist who helped me design and personalize an original cross, given to me by the carpenter from Illinois, Greg Zanis. Because of my idea of how to avoid legal entanglements restricting any permanent memorial design, Greg gave me one of his crosses! The 13 Columbines represent innocent lives lost and the white dove, an international symbol of peace, holds two remaining Columbines which appear to be perfectly normal but the dove, like our community is still, struggles with where to place those lost souls. I would ask the National Rifle Association to support design and development of self-defense devices which are not meant to kill. If terrorists blow up a school and head out into a neighborhood, I want something that hits like a linebacker on the football field which I can shoot from a standard shotgun. I want to stop them without intending to kill anyone. Write a letter if you agree. I want the Federal Communications Commission to rid public airwaves of violence-inducing rhetoric. A radio person who joked that the young women of Columbine should have been raped before they were shot at does not deserve any electronic enhancement of his poison. But I will defend his right to shout his garbage from the top of his voice if he dares come here in person to speak. Write a letter. Ask also that the internet not allow weapons of mass destruction to be blueprinted there. Do one thing this Memorial Day in honor of our tragedy that you, never did before. A Hug here, a letter there, a phone call. Thank you for listening. Steve Schweitzfberger this document (c) 1999 Steve Schweitzfberger

last updated 6-5-99
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this page and the images on it (c) 1999 - 2009 James k