Students ban together in wake of Vegas tragedy

On October 1 2017, thousands of people gathered for the Route 91 country concert. Around 11 p.m. a mass shooting took place. Vanguard, along with the rest of this country, has been affected by the Vegas shooting.

For sophomore Sydney Siler, the shock of Vegas hit very close to home.

After hearing the news about the terrible shooting Sydney’s mind first went to her sister who was attending the concert with a group of her friends. Even after hearing that her sister Haley was safe, Sydney still felt the pain for others that may not have gotten to hear.

“I was very scared for the death tolls to rise and also if more was going to happen. It was the shock of the unknown, wondering what was the outcome going to be,” said Siler

For other students that may not have had a close friend at the event, there still was a feeling of pain.

“I didn’t fully understand was happening, I looked at it and it didn’t register in my head what happened. It is very sad things like this is becoming more reoccurring and I think for me it wasn’t till I heard that one of my close friend’s family was there that I truly felt the lost and got scared,” sophomore Kayla Harrell said.

Dark times like this call for the unity of a nation. There is always something that can be done to help no matter how big or small it can make a difference.

Giving blood can make a huge difference in saving someone’s life. Siler was one of the thousands that came out to the Red Cross to give blood. Her reason to donate was simple.

“Knowing that all my family was up north and my sister was still in Vegas but that I wasn’t there to give her hug. I knew more people there and there wasn’t anything I could do because I wasn’t there I just kind of figured that if there was anything I could do then I should take that up. So, I decide to give blood cause it’s what I could do from where I am,” Siler said.

The opportunity to give blood is still in need, there are hundreds of victims that are in the process of fighting for their lives, or healing from not only their injures, but emotionally as well.

“This coming Sunday will be 3 weeks and the first week it happens I was always checking to see what the updates where and now I realize I haven’t done that in the past few days. I was thinking about the families that are still grieving and I am not the only one that probably not realize this is still happening,” said Senior Danie Farris

There is still so much more the Vanguard community can do for the victims of Vegas. Whether it’s donate blood, money, or just keeping them in prayers. It does not matter how big or small the action is, because in times like these just by standing together as a community makes all the difference.