By: Emily Zeigfinger/Contributor
It’s not a permanent memorial, but Park Cities residents have already started honoring the victims of Kerr County’s catastrophic flooding.
The names of young Park Cities girls who did not survive the flood have been written in purple, blue, yellow, and pink sidewalk chalk on a fence along Preston Road. Nearby, dozens of community members have drawn rainbows, hearts, and crosses. “Fly High Angels” is written near the top of the fence.
The first rainbow was drawn on the fence by Conrad Drabinski as a tribute to his friend, Janie Hunt, a student at Hyer Elementary School who did not survive the flood. Conrad’s parents, Elizabeth and Daniel, placed chalk near the fence so other community members could honor those lost in the disaster.
“During the pandemic, we had let a bunch of the neighborhood kids go out and start doing chalk drawings on the fence and walls just to express their feelings,” Daniel explained. “After the prayer services, Elizabeth suggested that we do the same for these little girls.”
The fence has become a place for the community to share kind words of love and hope, Daniel said. “Through the last couple days we’ve had dozens and dozens, if not 50 or 100, kids and people walking up and writing messages.”
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