As the sun lowered past the horizon, the nearly full moon rose into the sky with a thousand candlelights. Four jumbo white balloons, danced with the summer wind, to the side of a podium dressed in lifesize photos of our four girls. The ceremony was a melting pot of faiths, hymns and poems of hope and an outpouring of love from a community united.
Our Girls… has become the way we as a community chose to refer to the talented young women, we lost last Saturday, July 18th 2015 in a tragic Cutchogue limo crash. For some, it’s just a turn of phrase. For most, its because they impacted the lives of so many, in the 20 some years spent among us.
Smithtown residents have a way of coming together like one big family does in crisis. The family members who spoke at yesterday’s vigil, praised neighbors and strangers alike for the unwavering love and support, instilling hope in darker times.
Tears were shed silently, along the full football field and from up high along the packed bleachers as the sisters of Stephanie Belli promised to hug her every night as they cuddle in her bed. Family and friends spoke of Lauren Baruch’s joie de vivre, describing her as a bright shining light wherever her surroundings. Hearts melted as Amy Grabina’s boyfriend shared the first time he said I love You. Brittney Schulman’s cousin spoke of swaddling her as a baby and watching her grow into a young independant woman with a budding fashion career.
As the night sky grew darker, a thousand flameless candles were raised to guide each white balloon up to the heavens. A moment of silence and prayer was observed for each of the girls as the balloons followed one another in the same direction. As the candlelight vigil came to end, the organizer; Liz Scarpa-Lauro asked friends and strangers alike to hold hands with the person next to them as the family members were escorted off the field in privacy.
There is nothing a person can say to alleviate the pain of losing a child. But to bare witness to the people of Smithtown unite their hearts as one for the family and loved ones of Stephanie Belli, Lauren Baruch, Amy Grabina and Brittney Schulman, was to witness an act of God. It is a promise to remember Our Girls in all we do each day, to offer support no matter how much time may pass and to celebrate their lives with random acts of kindness