Associated Press Archive - February 5, 1999
Deceased Names: Loren Wells - Rebecca Weirich - Tracy Graham - Rachael Lehr - Shaena Grigaitis - Grieving teen-agers eulogize five dead classmates
Amanda Congar described an emotional emptiness that overpowered her high school after five classmates died together in a car crash last week.
"It's been really quiet around the halls. It's really depressing. You don't feel like you're actually here," she said. "Your body's floating and your mind's somewhere else."
Congar was one of hundreds of people who attended a tribute Thursday inside the Penncrest High School auditorium for the five girls who died when their car overturned returning from a shopping trip.
Shaena Grigaitis, 16, had already picked out her dress a week ago for the spring prom. So had her friend, Rachael Lehr, 17, who also died in the crash along with Tracy Graham, also 17, and Rebecca Weirich and Loren Wells, both 16.
One by one, speakers shared their own special memories with the people who packed the auditorium in this old mill town on the outskirts of Philadelphia. Dozens of people sat on folding chairs in the gymnasium to watch the service on closed-circuit television.
Shaena's boyfriend, half-sobbing, said he knows "she's up in heaven looking out for me." A teacher, quoting Jack London, spoke of the victims' "brilliant blazes, magnificent flow, living, not existing." A student sang a pretty, lilting version of "Amazing Grace."
Others recounted the girls' attributes: Tracy -- whose cousin said dreamed of being a TV weather forecaster in some sunny climate -- loved dolphins and the color blue. Rachael, who aspired to be a model, was a "brilliant star now shining down on us."
Becky had a beautiful smile and a sassy demeanor. Loren had decided to take nursing classes and was fascinated by medicine. Both were the kind of people who knew how to cheer up others.
Police were still trying to determine what caused Miss Wells' dark blue Corsica to swerve across a median on a twisting section of U.S. Route 1 before smashing into a tree. Four of the girls died on impact; Miss Graham died at a hospital.
Students have flocked to the crash site all week, depositing flowers, T-shirts, stuffed animals and balloons. Many of them have left messages, filled with joy and sorrow.
One of the notes was from Miss Graham's 15-year-old sister.
"Tracy, I love you very much and will never forget your smile. Always look down on me. All you guys stick together. Love ya, Vicky Graham."
Miss Lehr was laid to rest in the all-white dress she had picked out for the junior prom. Miss Grigaitis -- who paged Tracy Graham every night before bed with the words "I love you" -- was buried in a pink prom dress of beaded satin.
These girls were all beautiful, sweet, kind and died too young.
Deceased Names: Loren Wells - Rebecca Weirich - Tracy Graham - Rachael Lehr - Shaena Grigaitis - Grieving teen-agers eulogize five dead classmates
Amanda Congar described an emotional emptiness that overpowered her high school after five classmates died together in a car crash last week.
"It's been really quiet around the halls. It's really depressing. You don't feel like you're actually here," she said. "Your body's floating and your mind's somewhere else."
Congar was one of hundreds of people who attended a tribute Thursday inside the Penncrest High School auditorium for the five girls who died when their car overturned returning from a shopping trip.
Shaena Grigaitis, 16, had already picked out her dress a week ago for the spring prom. So had her friend, Rachael Lehr, 17, who also died in the crash along with Tracy Graham, also 17, and Rebecca Weirich and Loren Wells, both 16.
One by one, speakers shared their own special memories with the people who packed the auditorium in this old mill town on the outskirts of Philadelphia. Dozens of people sat on folding chairs in the gymnasium to watch the service on closed-circuit television.
Shaena's boyfriend, half-sobbing, said he knows "she's up in heaven looking out for me." A teacher, quoting Jack London, spoke of the victims' "brilliant blazes, magnificent flow, living, not existing." A student sang a pretty, lilting version of "Amazing Grace."
Others recounted the girls' attributes: Tracy -- whose cousin said dreamed of being a TV weather forecaster in some sunny climate -- loved dolphins and the color blue. Rachael, who aspired to be a model, was a "brilliant star now shining down on us."
Becky had a beautiful smile and a sassy demeanor. Loren had decided to take nursing classes and was fascinated by medicine. Both were the kind of people who knew how to cheer up others.
Police were still trying to determine what caused Miss Wells' dark blue Corsica to swerve across a median on a twisting section of U.S. Route 1 before smashing into a tree. Four of the girls died on impact; Miss Graham died at a hospital.
Students have flocked to the crash site all week, depositing flowers, T-shirts, stuffed animals and balloons. Many of them have left messages, filled with joy and sorrow.
One of the notes was from Miss Graham's 15-year-old sister.
"Tracy, I love you very much and will never forget your smile. Always look down on me. All you guys stick together. Love ya, Vicky Graham."
Miss Lehr was laid to rest in the all-white dress she had picked out for the junior prom. Miss Grigaitis -- who paged Tracy Graham every night before bed with the words "I love you" -- was buried in a pink prom dress of beaded satin.
These girls were all beautiful, sweet, kind and died too young.
Associated Press Archive - February 5, 1999
Deceased Names: Loren Wells - Rebecca Weirich - Tracy Graham - Rachael Lehr - Shaena Grigaitis - Grieving teen-agers eulogize five dead classmates
Amanda Congar described an emotional emptiness that overpowered her high school after five classmates died together in a car crash last week.
"It's been really quiet around the halls. It's really depressing. You don't feel like you're actually here," she said. "Your body's floating and your mind's somewhere else."
Congar was one of hundreds of people who attended a tribute Thursday inside the Penncrest High School auditorium for the five girls who died when their car overturned returning from a shopping trip.
Shaena Grigaitis, 16, had already picked out her dress a week ago for the spring prom. So had her friend, Rachael Lehr, 17, who also died in the crash along with Tracy Graham, also 17, and Rebecca Weirich and Loren Wells, both 16.
One by one, speakers shared their own special memories with the people who packed the auditorium in this old mill town on the outskirts of Philadelphia. Dozens of people sat on folding chairs in the gymnasium to watch the service on closed-circuit television.
Shaena's boyfriend, half-sobbing, said he knows "she's up in heaven looking out for me." A teacher, quoting Jack London, spoke of the victims' "brilliant blazes, magnificent flow, living, not existing." A student sang a pretty, lilting version of "Amazing Grace."
Others recounted the girls' attributes: Tracy -- whose cousin said dreamed of being a TV weather forecaster in some sunny climate -- loved dolphins and the color blue. Rachael, who aspired to be a model, was a "brilliant star now shining down on us."
Becky had a beautiful smile and a sassy demeanor. Loren had decided to take nursing classes and was fascinated by medicine. Both were the kind of people who knew how to cheer up others.
Police were still trying to determine what caused Miss Wells' dark blue Corsica to swerve across a median on a twisting section of U.S. Route 1 before smashing into a tree. Four of the girls died on impact; Miss Graham died at a hospital.
Students have flocked to the crash site all week, depositing flowers, T-shirts, stuffed animals and balloons. Many of them have left messages, filled with joy and sorrow.
One of the notes was from Miss Graham's 15-year-old sister.
"Tracy, I love you very much and will never forget your smile. Always look down on me. All you guys stick together. Love ya, Vicky Graham."
Miss Lehr was laid to rest in the all-white dress she had picked out for the junior prom. Miss Grigaitis -- who paged Tracy Graham every night before bed with the words "I love you" -- was buried in a pink prom dress of beaded satin.
These girls were all beautiful, sweet, kind and died too young.
Deceased Names: Loren Wells - Rebecca Weirich - Tracy Graham - Rachael Lehr - Shaena Grigaitis - Grieving teen-agers eulogize five dead classmates
Amanda Congar described an emotional emptiness that overpowered her high school after five classmates died together in a car crash last week.
"It's been really quiet around the halls. It's really depressing. You don't feel like you're actually here," she said. "Your body's floating and your mind's somewhere else."
Congar was one of hundreds of people who attended a tribute Thursday inside the Penncrest High School auditorium for the five girls who died when their car overturned returning from a shopping trip.
Shaena Grigaitis, 16, had already picked out her dress a week ago for the spring prom. So had her friend, Rachael Lehr, 17, who also died in the crash along with Tracy Graham, also 17, and Rebecca Weirich and Loren Wells, both 16.
One by one, speakers shared their own special memories with the people who packed the auditorium in this old mill town on the outskirts of Philadelphia. Dozens of people sat on folding chairs in the gymnasium to watch the service on closed-circuit television.
Shaena's boyfriend, half-sobbing, said he knows "she's up in heaven looking out for me." A teacher, quoting Jack London, spoke of the victims' "brilliant blazes, magnificent flow, living, not existing." A student sang a pretty, lilting version of "Amazing Grace."
Others recounted the girls' attributes: Tracy -- whose cousin said dreamed of being a TV weather forecaster in some sunny climate -- loved dolphins and the color blue. Rachael, who aspired to be a model, was a "brilliant star now shining down on us."
Becky had a beautiful smile and a sassy demeanor. Loren had decided to take nursing classes and was fascinated by medicine. Both were the kind of people who knew how to cheer up others.
Police were still trying to determine what caused Miss Wells' dark blue Corsica to swerve across a median on a twisting section of U.S. Route 1 before smashing into a tree. Four of the girls died on impact; Miss Graham died at a hospital.
Students have flocked to the crash site all week, depositing flowers, T-shirts, stuffed animals and balloons. Many of them have left messages, filled with joy and sorrow.
One of the notes was from Miss Graham's 15-year-old sister.
"Tracy, I love you very much and will never forget your smile. Always look down on me. All you guys stick together. Love ya, Vicky Graham."
Miss Lehr was laid to rest in the all-white dress she had picked out for the junior prom. Miss Grigaitis -- who paged Tracy Graham every night before bed with the words "I love you" -- was buried in a pink prom dress of beaded satin.
These girls were all beautiful, sweet, kind and died too young.
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