THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 14, 1996 TAG: 9604140069
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NANCY LEWIS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
The mournful wail of bagpipes wafted on the breeze, keening for Dunblane's dead.
Seventeen long-stemmed white carnations fell softly on the rippled lake, symbols for the 16 little boys and girls and their teacher who were shot to death at a Scottish primary school a month ago by a man who then turned a gun on himself.
At first, the flowers drifted like so many small boats loosed from their moorings. Then their frilly, upturned faces turned south with the current, and they bobbed gently on the sunlit surface, a lone flower out in front of the others.
But when the Rev. Andrew MacBeth of Eastern Shore Chapel began the recitation of Psalm 121, ``I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,'' the white flounces and their trailing stems turned shoreward. On the suddenly stilled water, they remained motionless for the duration of the final prayer.
Saturday's service by the lake at Mount Trashmore was one of 32 held Saturday throughout the United States, Canada and New Zealand in memory of those who died March 13.
The commemorations were coordinated via the Internet to take place in far-flung locations at noon local time. The ceremonies were initiated by Birgit Gonzales, a Binghamton, N.Y., woman who attended the Dunblane Primary School as a child.
The Virginia Beach service was organized by the area's Scottish community, which includes 10 separate groups.
Descendants of dozens of Scotland's 141 ancient clans, many dressed in plaids denoting their heritage, came together to remember the children - 15 5-year-olds and one 6-year-old - and their 44-year-old teacher, a mother of two.
``The clans are like the fingers of a hand - bonded together,'' said Charles Austin of Virginia Beach. He said that he had been taken aback by the tragedy in his ancestral land.
``If you can picture a place where you have to stop for sheep crossing the road, for families of pheasant, red and grey foxes,'' he said, recalling his one visit to Scotland.
Austin wore his colorful Keith clan kilt and knee socks with ribbon ``skendue'' tabs. He traces his ancestry back 750 years to the great marshals - or sheriffs - of Scotland.
Madeleine Hurry, a Scotswoman who has lived in Virginia Beach for about a year and a half, said she grieved and cried for a week after the tragedy. She was familiar with the town of Dunblane and its surrounds.
``One cannot believe such a thing would take place in a small country town,'' she said. ``The rolling hills, the purple heather roundabout.''
Ken Jones had come all the way from Richmond to take part in the ceremony.
``What an awful thing,'' he said. ``It's the only reason I'm here, really.''
Jones played bagpipes that have been in his family for 150 years. He was dressed in a MacNeil clan kilt of green, blue and black, and wore, on his feet, authentic Scottish ``ghillie brogues.''
Bo Barkley was dressed in a blue-and-green plaid ``hunting'' kilt with forest green knee socks. Tucked into his black wool ``belmorell,'' or cap, was a sprig of purple heather.
Barkley, who travels to the land of his ancestors each year, said he'd been surprised at the shooting because Scotland has such stringent gun laws.
Before the flowers were tossed onto the lake came the roll call of the dead: Victoria Clydesdale . . . Emma Crozier . . . Melissa Currie . . . Charlotte Dun . . . Kevin Hasell . . . Ross Irvine . . . David Kerr . . . Mhairi McBeath . . . Brett McKinnon . . . Abigail McLennan . . . Emily Morton
The shrill and haunting notes of ``Amazing Grace'' played by kilted bagpipers and drummers framed the ceremony, sounding a wordless cry for lost innocence and youth.
It was a dirge heard in communities large and small with Scotch heritage - in Springfield, Ill.; in North Bay, Ontario; in Bangor, Maine; in Hoosick Falls, New York. In all, 24 services were to take place in 16 states in this country. In Canada, there were to be seven memorial events in three provinces. New Zealanders, too, were to participate in noon services.
Dan and Margaret O'Leary, who were instrumental in making arrangements for the Virginia Beach service, said that their daughter would also participate by playing the bagpipes in a Salt Lake City service.
In addition, a proclamation signed by Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf, declaring April 13 an annual day of remembrance in Virginia Beach, will be sent to the people of Dunblane. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by JIM WALKER, The Virginian-Pilot
At the lake at Mount Trashmore on Saturday, one flower for each
victim of the Dunblane massacre - 17 in all - was tossed into the
water. Later, prayers and poetry were read in memory of the Scottish
victims.
Photo by JIM WALKER, The Virginian-Pilot
Clayton Skinner, 12, of Virginia Beach plays drums with Tidewater
Pipes and Drums during Saturday's memorial service. The Mount
Trashmore ceremony was coordinated with 31 others held in the United
States, Canada and New Zealand.
by CNB