UVALDE, Texas — Before the tragedy that ripped a ragged hole in the heart of this town, any fame it had accumulated came by way of its honey hives, a Tejano band, a vice president, governor, even the Queen of the West. A state football title didn’t quite pull the same rank locally. Didn’t even rate a mention on the water tower looming high above the Honey Bowl.
But 50 years after the Uvalde Coyotes’ greatest glory and four months since the source of their deepest sorrow, the hope here is that a reunion celebration on Labor Day weekend will provide at least a brief respite from grief.
Maybe even helps a community begin to heal.
Steve Stoy knows how improbable it seems, that recycling memories of the 1972 football season might somehow mitigate some of the pain, anger and bitterness coursing through his hometown. Nothing heals the loss of 21 lives. No one dare suggests it could. Certainly not anyone who sees the reminders daily. Stoy and a half-dozen of his former high school teammates still live in the town where they grew up. They worship at the same churches as the victims’ families, shop at the same grocery stores, eat in the same restaurants.
The ‘72 Coyotes were so sensitive to the grief and outrage since the shootings at Robb Elementary on May 24, they weren’t even sure they should go ahead with the reunion. They didn’t know if it’d be right. They’re not sure of a lot of things these days.
“Nobody knows what to do,” said Stoy, a retired farmer, “because you’ve never been in a situation like this.
“Once you’re in it, it’s miserable.”
Now that they’re all in it together — a tragedy in a town of 16,000 touches nearly everyone — they’ve been humbled by the kindness of outsiders. More than $14 million in private donations and $6.5 million from the state for mental health services. Bo Jackson, a legend in two sports, wrote a check for the funerals. Houston Astros officials chartered 10 buses to take 500 citizens to Houston and passed out 3,000 tickets for “Uvalde Strong Day” at Minute Maid Park.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/offb...sI30owoy9SLqSIsKLeCgTE21kzbuGN2gMD08M_ewcIqEQ
But 50 years after the Uvalde Coyotes’ greatest glory and four months since the source of their deepest sorrow, the hope here is that a reunion celebration on Labor Day weekend will provide at least a brief respite from grief.
Maybe even helps a community begin to heal.
Steve Stoy knows how improbable it seems, that recycling memories of the 1972 football season might somehow mitigate some of the pain, anger and bitterness coursing through his hometown. Nothing heals the loss of 21 lives. No one dare suggests it could. Certainly not anyone who sees the reminders daily. Stoy and a half-dozen of his former high school teammates still live in the town where they grew up. They worship at the same churches as the victims’ families, shop at the same grocery stores, eat in the same restaurants.
The ‘72 Coyotes were so sensitive to the grief and outrage since the shootings at Robb Elementary on May 24, they weren’t even sure they should go ahead with the reunion. They didn’t know if it’d be right. They’re not sure of a lot of things these days.
“Nobody knows what to do,” said Stoy, a retired farmer, “because you’ve never been in a situation like this.
“Once you’re in it, it’s miserable.”
Now that they’re all in it together — a tragedy in a town of 16,000 touches nearly everyone — they’ve been humbled by the kindness of outsiders. More than $14 million in private donations and $6.5 million from the state for mental health services. Bo Jackson, a legend in two sports, wrote a check for the funerals. Houston Astros officials chartered 10 buses to take 500 citizens to Houston and passed out 3,000 tickets for “Uvalde Strong Day” at Minute Maid Park.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/offb...sI30owoy9SLqSIsKLeCgTE21kzbuGN2gMD08M_ewcIqEQ
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