OSO — The first year has passed since the land above Steelhead Drive betrayed the people who lived there and swallowed them up. The broken hill looked down Sunday morning, keeping its peace, never to be trusted again.
Hundreds of men, women and children whose lives have changed gathered below to honor men, women and children whose lives were lost.
They stood together, closer than strangers do, facing hummocks of dirt and little beds of daffodils, the hill far beyond.
As the ceremony started, they were asked to watch a flag flying from a spar tree, hoisted to full staff for the first time. Sun broke through the clouds.
The crowd turned their backs to the hill to watch the flag rise. They kept their hats off for a moment of silence, honoring the 43 souls who will never stand here again.
Pipers played “Amazing Grace,” a hymn big enough to fill the sky and those empty places in aching hearts.
“I once was lost but now am found…”
Near the flag, a lone piper played it back across the bare land.
“Tis grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home…”
It was 10:37 a.m.
A roll from the drummers echoed through the valley, in some ways marking an end. A second roll, another echo. This time, a call to life.
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