I know Memorial Day is usually for remembering those who fought so bravely for the United States in so many wars.
But I got to thinking that it would be great if we could remember other souls in need too, especially innocent children who suffered the ultimate fate.
Such a person was Phoebe Prince, a joyful 15-years -young girl from Ireland who was bullied to death at her South Hadley High School in Massachusetts.
The face and the memory is starting to fade and the great American media circus has moved on from Phoebe and her family, but somehow I cannot forget her.
She died too horribly, taking her own life after two separate gangs of bullies taunted her daily, threatened her, made her life miserable until she could not take it any more.
The sad part is that the adults in charge of the children come out hopelessly compromised too
Teachers saw the bullying and ignored it, the school board washed their hands of it, local parents tried to rumormonger that Phoebe was unstable to begin with.
Yet a brave District Attorney stood up to the see no evil adults and has now begun a prosecution for bullying a young girl to her grave.
There will be a trial in a few months of those who allegedly bullied her to death and the media carnival will come to town again.
Most importantly thought, three parents of bullied children elsewhere have come forward since Phoebe died and stated that having read about Phoebe they believe they stopped similar suicides among their own children.
So just as much as the example of our honored dead on battlefields from Iraq to Europe inspire us today, so should the message of a dead young girl from Ireland resonates.
That message is that we should say never again and truly mean it. Our children's lives are sacred.
Originally published in 2010.
6 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.irishpjk | May 28, 2012, 11:15 PM EDT
I don’t see how you can tie the two together. Memorial Day is to remember the Military people who fought in wars and died. I see no connection in your story, in fact it makes me wonder if your intentions were not to distract from our Military dead which is our real reason for this day. I have said a prayer for Phoebe before and will again, but today God bless our war dead. Tomorrow I will say a prayer for Phoebe, and ask God if he can forgive the people who caused the wars.
Searlit | May 28, 2012, 04:01 PM EDT
I haven't forgotten her. I think of her everytime I hear about another child being bullied. It is as though her spirit is guiding others to prevent bullying.
Bythebay | May 28, 2012, 03:44 PM EDT
Poor Phoebe also tried suicide when in school in Ireland. Schools everywhere as well as parents need to be alert to difficulties students are having in their inter-personal relationships to provide needed support to them.
SeamusMor | May 28, 2012, 12:12 PM EDT
Every day!
boydshield | May 28, 2012, 10:47 AM EDT
Not Memorial Day which is reserved for those who served our country, but 14 Feb., Valentines Day to celebrate the lives of the souls of our children, and those in need. Why? Valentines Day begins in schools with the innocence of handing out and receiving small Valentines. They should have all had the innocence of love.
Murph46 | May 28, 2012, 10:14 AM EDT
The loss of this little girl remains a tragedy,and she should be celebrated for bringing the problem of bullying to the forefront!