Twelve years ago, 12 students and a teacher were killed in the shootings on April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School. The tragedy shocked the entire nation and the rest of the world. The tragedy shattered so many lives and brought fear in the hearts of many.
One of the lives taken on this tragic day was the young life of Lauren Townsend.
“Lauren was a senior and captain of the girls’ varsity volleyball team, which her mother, Dawn Anna, coached. She was a member of the National Honor Society and was a candidate for valedictorian of her graduating class. Lauren was a talented sketch artist as well. Nicknamed “Lulu,” she was a straight ‘A’ student – she never got a ‘B’. She volunteered at a local animal shelter and had planned to major in biology at Colorado State University when she graduated from Columbine.
Lauren was in the library with her friends (Lisa Kreutz, Diwata Perez, Valeen Schnurr, and Jeanna Park) when the shooting began. She hid beneath the table with them when the teacher told everyone to get down. Finding herself beside a frightened Val Schnurr, Lauren put her arm around her, drew her closer and told her everything would be okay. After several minutes of hearing the gunmen taunt and shoot other people hiding in the library, one of the killers – Dylan Klebold – came to Lauren’s table. He opened fire, injuring Lisa and Val. He fired again, as fast as his weapon would shoot, hitting Lauren several times. A few minutes later Eric Harris came back around the table and shot beneath it again, hitting Lauren again but she didn’t feel it — she was already dead.
She died on the floor of the library from multiple bullet- and shotgun wounds to the head, chest and lower body. Her funeral was held at Foothills Bible Church where her brother Josh played a tribute video filled with moments from her life. Many of her teachers spoke at her funeral, commending her gentle nature and loving spirit as well as her academic excellence. Her coffin was a white one that people attending her funeral could write on, much like one would sign a yearbook. Her father wrote: “Lulu, you’ll always be my baby.”
She was buried in Littleton Cemetery in Littleton, Colorado.”
Lauren & those who died will forever be in our thoughts and prayers. We will forever pray for their loved ones for the strength to carry on. They will never be forgotten and will always be remembered.
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