by Theodore R. · March 30, 2004 · Last Updated: April 13, 2004

You're probably asking, "why would you want to do a tribute page to the victims of Columbine High School?" The reason why I chose to do a tribute page is because I have watched Michael Moore's movie, Bowling for Columbine in October of last year. I was so appalled at the aftermath of the senseless shooting of Columbine. It also sparked an interest in reading books about the victims. I already had 4 Columbine-related books in my library, and 3 of them I haven't read previously. So I first checked out the book, Rachel's Tears, written by the parents of the late Rachel Joy Scott. I was so moved by how she lived her life for Christ, I decided to read more books about Columbine. This eventually lead into creating this tribute page to those that lost their lives in the tragedy, of many have died because they stood up for what they believe - that Jesus Christ is Lord!

Some of my friends and family members told me not to get too much into this stuff. No one prays or wishes for a tragic event like 9-11 or Columbine, but God allows such things to allow people to come to their senses and realize that God is still in charge of this world and our lives. If there was no one else that would do a page like this, someone had to do it, and that someone was me!

Piecing it All Together

This April 20th will mark the 5th anniversary of the tragic shooting that would change the lives of every person in this country. Very few people haven't heard about the incident at Columbine High School, located in Littleton, Colorado - just south of Denver.

April 20, 1999 was a typical Tuesday in every city of America. Until late that morning and early afternoon, there were two boys who seemed to hate EVERYONE. They were named Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. These sick-minded killers went on a shooting rampage that killed 12 students and one teacher, and then turned the guns against them and killed themselves. Therefore 15 people died. It wounded over 20 other students.

With a suburban high school being turned into a slaughter house overnight, this sent a whole town shocked, scared, and desperate for answers. It would have parents scrambling to find their children, only to find that some of the them would never come back home. It would have countless students, parents, and teachers from around the nation scared that something like Columbine would happen. It would also make them desperate to know why, WHY would these two kids do something so senseless?

They Said "YES..." to Jesus!

Rachel Joy Scott

Rachel Joy Scott had a strong and uncompromising faith in Jesus Christ. The journals she wrote not only reveal her faith, but also who she was personally. She was very honest and sincere in herself and her faith. As with any person that lived, she had her flaws. She was overcoming a smoking habit.

Rachel was a very busy teenager. She was an aspiring actress who starred in what would be her last play - Smoke in the Room. She also worked part-time for Subway.

Her drawings are very spectacular, and often scary, but also expresses her faith in God. In one picture she drew, she drew a picture of her hand, and in that picture, Rachel wrote a poem that's very challenging to believers and non-believers alike. At the end of the message, it says "ETERNITY IS IN YOUR HANDS... CHANGE IT!"

She was a friend to everyone she met. She went out of her way to make people feel important regardless of who they were.

She was very determined not to compromise and do what it takes to "fit in". She decided to live her life the way God wanted her to live, no matter what other people thought of her. Even if that meant being hated by two of her fellow classmates - Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Just a year before Rachel was shot, Eric and Dylan made a shocking video which had strong references to her. (I remember this video vaguely when watching a news magazine.) This is what was quoted from the two boys:

Eric: "Shut the f___ up Nick - you laugh too much. And those girls sitting next to you, they probably want you to shup up too. Rachel and Jen and whatever."

Dylan: "Stuck-up little b____, you f___ing little Christian godly whore."

Eric: "Yeh, (mockingly) 'I Love Jesus, I Love Jesus,' shut the f___ up!"

Dylan: (mockingly) "What would Jesus do?" (makes a face at camera and yells) "What would I do?? Boosh!" (points at camera as if he's holding a shotgun)

Eric: "I would shoot you in the motherf___ing head! Go Romans - Thank God the crucified that a__hole!!"

Both: "Go Romans! GO Romans! Yea! Whoooh!"

The two gunmen were ironically involved in the same Film and Drama Club as Rachel, and it was said that even she told them lovingly, but Eric and Dylan were determined to do what they wanted to do.

On April 20, 1999, while eating lunch with her friend Richard Castaldo, she was shot in the head by Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris because of her faith in Jesus Christ. Her funeral was April 24 - just four days after she was killed. It would be the most watched newscast on CNN.

Theo's Letter to Rachel

Dear Rachel,

After reading Rachel's Tears written by your earthly parents, I was so touched by your uncompromising faith in Christ. You knew when to do what's RIGHT and you left the consequences up to God. By seeing your example, Rachel, you have made me want to completely sell out myself for Jesus Christ. After doing so, many great things have happened in my life. I've made more friends that are Christians. I'm involved a college-aged youth group that meets weekly and we give it our all, through praise and worship. No telling what else will lie ahead, but I want to give thanks to you, Rachel Joy Scott for giving me the pleasure to get to know you as a true friend. I will definitely meet you in heaven! I can hardly wait to get there myself, where I will also be with Jesus! I know you're busy in heaven seeing all of the wonderful things your brothers and sisters on Earth have done in your honor. This is no exception! Thank You!

In Christ,

Theodore R.

Cassie Bernall

Before Cassie came to know the Lord, she hung out with the wrong people, although she claimed they were her friends. With those "friends", she was involved with many wicked things including Satanism, The Occult, drug abuse, and other things. They also influenced her to want to kill her parents. Her parents moved from the neighborhood to keep Cassie away from those people who were influencing her to do those wicked things.

She was also sent to a private Christian school in hopes of getting Christian leadership. She met a friend who would later bring her to a Christian youth retreat. At that retreat, she would forever come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Cassie was shot in the head on April 20, 1999 by Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris because she said "yes", when the shooters asked about her faith in Jesus Christ.

She gave her life to Christ, and left behind the crowd that she used to hang with.

Michael W. Smith wrote a song dedicated to her named "This is Your Time".

The Victims

The Dead

Cassie Bernall

Steven Curnow

Corey DePooter

Kelly Fleming

Matthew Ketcher

Daniel Mauser

Daniel Rohrbough

Rachel Joy Scott

Isaiah Shoels

John Tomlin

Lauren Townsend

Kyle Velasquez

William David Sanders (The teacher that was killed)

Wounded

Brian Anderson

Richard Castaldo*

Jennifer Doyle

Steven Austin Eubanks

Nick Foss

Sean Graves

Makai Hall

Anne Marie Hochhalter**

Patrick Ireland

Joyce Jankowski

Michael Johnson

Mark Kintgen

Lance Kirklin

Lisa Kreutz

Adam Kyler

Stephanie Munson

Pat Nielson

Nicole Nowlen

Jeanna Park

Kasey Ruegsegger

Valeen Schnurr

Dan Steepleton

Mark Taylor***

  * - Richard was shot in the back, and paralyzed from chest down, but he couls still use his arms.

 ** - Anne Marie Hochhalter is paralyzed from waist down. Sadly, her mother committed suicide shortly after the incident.

*** - One bullet barely misses the aorta in his heart.

Remembering Columbine Memorabilia

I have created desktop background images for your computer. Check them out by clicking here.

Sites to Check Out

www.racheljoyscott.com - Official site from Darrell Scott & family

www.rachelscott.com - Official site from Darrell Scott

www.racheljoyscott.net - A tribute created by Mike Santos

The Columbine Redemption - Darrell Scott's official page including dates for his upcoming speaking engagements.

The Cassie Bernall Web Site - A website established by her family.

The Columbine Shooting - Includes pictures of all 13 columbine victims

Tragedy at Columbine Memorial - Includes stuff from both Columbine and World Trade Center

Books to Check Out

Rachel's Tears
by Darrell Scott & Beth Nimmo

Rachel Smiles

by Darrell Scott

The Journals of Rachel Scott

adapted by Beth Nimmo and Debra K. Klingsporn

Chain Reaction

by Darrell Scott

She Said Yes

by Misty Bernall

The Martyr's Torch

by Bruce Porter

Columbine Courage
by Ron Luce

Content and design © 2004 Theo's Connection

Pictures property of those who originally have possession of them.

Cassie Bernall picture:

http://zanazl.tripod.com/Columbine/Pictures/Cassie3.jpg

Rachel Scott picture and hand drawing:

https://www.angelfire.com/ct2/chat/originalsite.html

Midi Song in Background:

Be Magnified

I have made You too small in my eyes, O Lord forgive me.
And I have believed in a lie, that You were unable to help me.
But now O Lord I see my wrong,
Heal my heart and show yourself strong
And in my eyes and with my song
O Lord be magnified, O Lord be magnified.

Be magnified O Lord, You are highly exalted.
And there is nothing You can't do.
O Lord my eyes are on You,
Be magnified, O Lord be magnified.

I have leaned on the wisdom of men, O Lord forgive me.
And I have responded to them, instead of Your light and mercy.
But now O Lord I see my wrong,
Heal my heart and show yourself strong.
And in my eyes and with my song.
O Lord be magnified, O Lord be magnified.
 

Notes

Bruce Porter, The Martyr's Torch (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers), pages iii, 67

Misty Bernall, She Said Yes (New York: Simon & Schuster)

Darrell Scott and Beth Nimmo, Rachel's Tears (Nashville: Thomas Nelson)