NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A special vigil will take place in Nashville today to give the public a place to reflect on the lives lost one year ago in the Covenant School shooting.
Organizers at the Woodmont Christian Church say the aim is to bring people together, and provide hope, healing, music and reflection.
It's scheduled to take place at 6:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary. Woodmont has played a huge role in the community's recovery from the Covenant School tragedy.
Woodmont Baptist, which is also across the street from Woodmont Christian, was the location that helped reunite parents with their children when kids were evacuated from the school during the shooting in 2023.
Woodmont has held forums on gun reform, town halls and more to provide an outlet for the community. It is also home to many of the children who attend Covenant School.
Pastors there have spent a lot of the last year helping families grieve and move forward. One of the church's members, Evelyn Dieckhaus, was one of the six people killed in the shooting.
The church's message from the beginning has been that those impacted do not have to go through it alone. They say you can also make a difference by coming to the vigil and offering support to those whose lives are forever changed by what happened.
This is a beautiful story of chosen family, proving a father figure doesn't have to have biology in common to make a difference in a child's life. The story of De'Andre and Alex will remind you that our relationships help determine the course of our lives. And that being supportive of someone - through a meal, a shared experience or even swim lessons can make all the difference.
- Rebecca Schleicher
