ROSEBURG, Ore. (KOIN) — The Roseburg High School football stadium is at the core of this community on Friday nights in the fall. This week, it’s more than that.
As the sun set on a dark and difficult week for Roseburg, people who live here gathered. The shooting at Umpqua Community College was still on their minds, but they were ready to begin healing — together.
“It’s helping us get back in the swing of things, as well as kind of get together as a school,” said Roseburg High School senior Carson Murphy.
Before the opening kickoff was a moment of silence to reflect and remember those who died in the shooting and their families.
But once the action began — when coaches were coaching and players were playing — what once hurt so deeply didn’t feel quite as bad.
“We’re back to our football and I think that all, that is healing,” resident Sue Carson said. “Things like this bring us even closer together, and I think that helps all of us heal.”
Another resident named April said, “It’s good to see everybody support throughout the community, everybody wearing t-shirts all over the place.”
Students handed out t-shirts and took donations with 100% of the proceeds going to the victims’ famililes. Carson Murphy helped make it happen.
“This isn’t something you can prepare for,” he said. “But I think we responded the best way we could.”