Fallen Athletes Remembered at Williamsport
By: Harold Kuntz
Updated: October 9, 2012
Four high school students who participated in athletics in Washington County have passed away this school year. Teammates and others honored them before the Washington County Track Meet with a balloon-releasing ceremony.
The balloons were in the favorite colors of the athletes. Quinn Hoover from Clear Spring had green balloons in his honor, Mitchell Akers of Smithsburg had orange, Williamsport's Brendon Colliflower had dark blue, and Samantha Kelly's were light blue. In a statement read during the ceremony, "the release of the balloons in some small way represents their spirit, which will always rise within each of us. The memory of their friendship and love will never be forgotten." An emotional star-spangled banner followed and students hugged and held hands during the ceremony for a moment before the meet began.
The balloons were in the favorite colors of the athletes. Quinn Hoover from Clear Spring had green balloons in his honor, Mitchell Akers of Smithsburg had orange, Williamsport's Brendon Colliflower had dark blue, and Samantha Kelly's were light blue. In a statement read during the ceremony, "the release of the balloons in some small way represents their spirit, which will always rise within each of us. The memory of their friendship and love will never be forgotten." An emotional star-spangled banner followed and students hugged and held hands during the ceremony for a moment before the meet began.
