By GAGE WILSON
For Glasgow News 1
Powerful is the only word to describe the scene in Park City Tuesday evening, as friends and family gathered at Bell’s Tavern Park to remember the late Brittney Harper.
The candlelight vigil began at 7 p.m. drawing dozens from the community. As the crowd gathered the sounds of sobs and laughter intermingled as stories of Harper’s life and impact on those around her were shared by the congregation.
Attendees for the vigil raised their candles as Brittney Harper’s friend, Taryn Riddle played “Freebird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, saying “To you all that knew Brittney, this song should make you think of her.” Gage Wilson/For Glasgow News 1
“I remember we had a party one time when her parents went down to Mexico,” giggled Taryn Riddle, a lifelong friend of Harper. “There’s a lot, we’d go cruise the strip, you know, skip school sometimes. Our last memory was when we went out to a Western game.”
Many of the attendees sported t-shirts in support of her family. Harper’s two children now live with her mother Shari Harper, “We’re going to do the best that we can, for Brittney, to raise these babies,” she said. “If anything comes out of this tragedy, it’s domestic violence awareness, if we can just save one lady out there, I would love for that to happen.”
As the sun dimmed the park was illuminated by the candles, the process of the lighting a metaphor for how an individual’s life can affect so many others as each candle was lit by another.
Gary Martin with the Park City Fire Department shared a memory of going to Harper’s residence after smoke was reported, finding Harper in the road, smiling and saying that “Everything’s fine and we won’t set off anymore fireworks.” Harper was a city employee, and many memories of her were shared by other city employees. Gage Wilson/For Glasgow News 1
Park City Commissioner, Mike Burgess, and his wife took a moment to read a passage from Psalms 23. The couple then sang a rendition of a gospel song entitled “Down the Road” with some in the crowd joining in the chorus. With the last notes fading into the dusk, a reflective silence fell on those gathered, as each remembered Harper in their own way.
One man spoke out, breaking the silence, to tell attendees about the work that Harper put into painting the playground and gazebo at the park. “Whenever you look at it, just remember Brittney and the work she put into it.”
Others followed suit, with stories ranging from firework mishaps to how they never got a chance to tell Harper what she meant to them. Many took the moment to utter to their candle and to each other: “We love you Brittney.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, assistance can be found at 270-659-0823, you can also visit the Barren River Safe Space here.
Friends and Family were asked to leave memories, messages and thoughts on two printed bolts laid out between pictures of Harper and her family. Gage Wilson/For Glasgow News 1
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