of destruction, leading participants past damaged structures, empty lots and new buildings. As they passed the rubble that was once Joplin High School near 24th Street and Indiana Avenue, shiny gold shovels stood in fresh soil — a sign of a new beginning. Danny Craven, ’97, Joplin High School multimedia center manager, said the May 21 graduation ceremony was a perfect capstone for what the students and faculty had been through this past year, but the May 22 event represented something more. “Today, as we break ground on the new Joplin High School, we’re ready to move forward,” Craven said. “It’s about today.” Penny Richeson, MSSU library clerk, was among the walkers. It’s a time for “I was in memorializing Cambodia with a group from the what happened teacher education department and what is when the tornado happening. hit last year,” That’s really Richeson said. “This has been a a unique very emotional experience for me combination of today.” emotions. Joplin Tammy Spicer, is in everyone’s ’97, state public affairs officer heart. for the Missouri National Guard, was in Joplin to assist with the high school graduation but stayed an extra day. She and two fellow Guard members walked on May 22 in the community Spicer once called home. “It’s a time for memorializing what happened and celebrating what is happening,” Spicer said. “That’s really a unique combination of emotions. Joplin is in everyone’s heart.” Meagan Haring, ’11, and her brother, Nick, ’10, survived the tornado in a bathtub as the storm ripped apart their duplex near 17th Street and Connecticut Avenue. She now lives in North Dakota but came back to visit family and remember May 22. Her Facebook post may sum up the feelings of many who walked that day: “I left with sunburnt cheeks and my heart just a bit more broken. Time to say goodbye to my life that was and look forward to my life that is.”
“
”
— Rhonda Clark, ’00
15 crossroads / spring 2012
Above left, American flags were a common sight during the walk and at Cunningham Park. Above, Penny Richeson (right), MSSU library clerk, visits with a fellow walker on the site of Joplin High School. Left, Tammy Spicer, ’97, state public affairs officer with the Missouri National Guard, remained in Joplin after assisting with the President’s visit on May 21 to be a part of the Walk of Unity. Lower left, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints raise their hands as a prayer of blessing is spoken at the site of the new church at 24th Street and Indiana Avenue where a new steeple was installed.