On Monday night, a candlelight vigil was held for music teacher Melody Logsdon, a long time teacher at both Paul Saylor and South Haven Elementary School who tragically lost her life in an automobile accident.
To see more photos from the event, click here.
The event featured all members of the community showing up to pay their respects and remember the teacher who had done so much for the students at each school.
“This is to honor the life of an incredible music teacher who has helped thousands and thousands of children,” said Portage Township Schools Superintendent Dr. Richard Weigel. “This is someone we identify with because we cared so deeply about her. We have kids, retired teachers and past students all here to commemorate the life of a very important person.”
“This was a lady who truly believed that the arts was part of every child's education,” says Paul Saylor Elementary Principal Shannon Sobeck. “She could bring music to life for any child, no matter who they were and that's incredibly special.”
The sidewalks around the school were lined with paper bags with heartfelt illustrations from students with messages proclaiming that Mrs. Logsdon was “the best music teacher ever” and someone who will be “forever missed”.
Melody was known for having a very successful music class that became so large and so popular, its programs had to be extended to the local high school to fit all the students and their parents. This legacy was honored by a large collection of children from both elementary schools Logsdon taught at singing the song “Edelweiss” from the Sound of Music.
Everyone who attended the vigil was invited to bring with them a candle or light in Logsdon's honor as they walked from Saylor Elementary to South Haven Elementary school with police and fire escorts to guide them along the way.
While people walked with candles and lights in hand, many could be heard reminiscing about the times they worked with Melody or had her as a teacher. Some had children who had her as a teacher, learning and enjoying her classes in the same way as their older siblings, parents, or even grandparents had many years before. Melody's teaching career and her ability to touch generations was seen throughout the crowd.
As the vigil came to a close and the walk ended at South Haven Elementary school, the atmosphere began to lift with children beginning to run and play with one another, the sounds of laughter and cheerful voices in the air.
While it may seem like an odd mood for a more somber kind of event, many felt that this was the way Melody would have wanted to have been remembered.
“I remember one time we had to pop popcorn for an event, due to a conflict our original plans were set back and we had to come up with a new plan,” says Sobeck. “Melody was the first to jump in and volunteer to help and while she popped the popcorn she contained to laugh and make me and others laugh as well. She was warm and was always happy and hugging kids. She was happy, and she loved to see others just as happy.”