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WAYNESVILLE—At an emotional prayer ceremony Friday morning, hundreds of Waynesville High School students gathered at the flagpole outside their school to remember one of their fellow classmates, 16-year-old Patrick Clegg, a baseball player who died from his injuries suffered in a game earlier this week.
In an outpouring display of grief, students often hugged one another and many had tears streaming down their face as they came together. A vase with purple flowers was left in front of the flagpole.
Clegg was struck by a pitch during the second inning of a game against Lebanon High School on Tuesday. He was transported to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, where he was placed in a medically-induced coma. Clegg was declared brain-dead Thursday evening and a press release from the hospital stated that his organs would be donated on Friday.
WHS principal Darrel Vaughan said he wasn’t surprised to see the number of students who showed up in front of the high school Friday. Vaughan said it’s a “tragic situation” the school is dealing with.
Vaughan called his students at the high school a “great troop of students” and said a crisis team is in place.
“We have a crisis team in place to handle situations like this,” he said. “They do a wonderful job.”
He added: “It’s a very tragic situation for the school district,” Vaughan said. “Everyone comes together in a time like this.”
A local business placed on its board a sign that offered prayers to Clegg. The business’s manager, Yvonne Stewart, said students were upset about the situation and wanted to put up something to display to the community. She said she agreed it was the right thing to do.
“We’re all part of the same community,” Stewart said.
Stewart said she has five high school students that she employs at her business.
A visitation for Clegg will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Waynesville High School gymnasium on Tuesday. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. also at that location. Burial will follow in the Sunset Memorial Estates Cemetery in Waynesville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Patrick Clegg and left at Security Bank of Pulaski County or Memorial Chapels and Crematory.
WAYNESVILLE—At an emotional prayer ceremony Friday morning, hundreds of Waynesville High School students gathered at the flagpole outside their school to remember one of their fellow classmates, 16-year-old Patrick Clegg, a baseball player who died from his injuries suffered in a game earlier this week.
In an outpouring display of grief, students often hugged one another and many had tears streaming down their face as they came together. A vase with purple flowers was left in front of the flagpole.
Clegg was struck by a pitch during the second inning of a game against Lebanon High School on Tuesday. He was transported to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, where he was placed in a medically-induced coma. Clegg was declared brain-dead Thursday evening and a press release from the hospital stated that his organs would be donated on Friday.
WHS principal Darrel Vaughan said he wasn’t surprised to see the number of students who showed up in front of the high school Friday. Vaughan said it’s a “tragic situation” the school is dealing with.
Vaughan called his students at the high school a “great troop of students” and said a crisis team is in place.
“We have a crisis team in place to handle situations like this,” he said. “They do a wonderful job.”
He added: “It’s a very tragic situation for the school district,” Vaughan said. “Everyone comes together in a time like this.”
A local business placed on its board a sign that offered prayers to Clegg. The business’s manager, Yvonne Stewart, said students were upset about the situation and wanted to put up something to display to the community. She said she agreed it was the right thing to do.
“We’re all part of the same community,” Stewart said.
Stewart said she has five high school students that she employs at her business.
A visitation for Clegg will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Waynesville High School gymnasium on Tuesday. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. also at that location. Burial will follow in the Sunset Memorial Estates Cemetery in Waynesville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Patrick Clegg and left at Security Bank of Pulaski County or Memorial Chapels and Crematory.
