'Each year brings more healing'

LITTLETON, Colo. — It was 36 degrees outside Columbine High School on Monday, but many of the kids arriving for class wore shorts and shirt-sleeves. A typical spring day in Colorado.

The only hint that it was the day before the fifth anniversary of the massacre of 12 students and one teacher was a sign in front of the school that read: "A Time to Remember, A Time to Hope."

"It's like every other day. You come to school and get some more homework," said Ryan Lindberg, a senior. "We'll talk about it. It's not too hard because we weren't there. It will be harder for any students who had brothers or sisters here when it happened."

On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold attacked their own school, gunning down classmates in glee as they dragged propane tanks inside, hidden in duffel bags. The teenagers killed themselves after realizing they had fallen short of their goal to kill 500.

The students who were enrolled at Columbine then are long gone; the 1998-99 freshmen class graduated two years ago. But there are brothers and students of those wounded in the attack.

Among them is Maggie Ireland, sister of Patrick Ireland, who became known to television viewers throughout the nation that day as "the boy in the window" because of his dangling escape onto an armored car. The only administrator left is Principal Frank DeAngelis, who said staying at Columbine helped keep him sane.

Rick Kaufman, spokesman for the school district, said security was stepped up at the school for Monday's classes. None of the 1,700 students will be here Tuesdaytoday. The campus is always closed on the anniversary of the attack.

"We mostly only talk about it when someone else brings it up. It's just like any other day," said Kim Ribble, a sophomore.

A memorial including a candlelight vigil is planned for tonight, with speakers including victim Anne Marie Hochhalter, who remains paralyzed from wounds inflicted by the killers. Hochhalter's mother, Carla June, committed suicide six months after the massacre. Dawn Anna, whose daughter, Lauren Townsend, was killed by the gunmen, also will speak.

Harriet Hall, the psychologist in charge of counseling for Columbine victims, said the anniversary event is necessary for healing.

"Something like a fifth anniversary puts people back to dealing with something that they have been walling off," she said. "Still, people are resilient. People are strong. The community has supported each other since that day. Each year brings more healing."