The Oxford Force wasn’t just a Friday night hashtag. Of course, it never has been.

It was a people who, in the cold dark evening, flooded the streets of the village by thousands of young and old, bundled up to honor the stolen members of the community and reclaim a house now known in infamy by those who had never heard of it before Tuesday.

They are a people who, amid the politicians and preachers who spoke at a village vigil on Friday night in remembrance of those lost in the mass shooting at Oxford High School this week chanted “We are Oxford” and applauded as Chaplain Dave Gerber said he wants the community to remember the home of the voice of the lone ranger and the gravel capital of the world.

“They are not going to define us because we will not be defined by tragedy,” he said from the podium. “We will be defined by the people who stand next to us today. We are not Christians, Muslims, Jews, Atheists, Hindus, Buddhists. We are not Republicans or Democrats. We are not not progressives, we are not conservatives, we are Wildcats, Oxford. “

Thunderous applause followed, in keeping with the silence that had started the rally – four minutes of silence for the four lives lost: Tate Myre, 16; Hana St. Juliana, 14; Madisyn Baldwin, 17, and Justin Shilling, 17.

#OxfordStrong: Oxford High School Booster Club offers black ribbon stickers, t-shirts

Latest updates on the Oxford set: Accusations of manslaughter for parents

The loss of the children in the community and the harm done to their other classmates that day will be remembered forever, Oakland County Director David Coulter told the crowd. But it will be the same Friday evening, with the members of the community excited.

“It may seem impossible now on this night of unspeakable pain that anything like joy can be in our future, but I have faith that there is a peace that comes despite our limited understanding,” he said. he declared to the crowd, after quoting the scriptures.

There was peace in the city before, of course.

Gregory Kudela, who shares a law firm with Lee D. Knauf, a block south of Centennial Park where the Friday night vigil was held, asked a reporter at the scene not to take a cynical approach with the sweet community being covered. Kudela, 68, allowed those attending the vigil to park on his business property and waved them in with a flashlight.

“It’s a good city,” he said. “It’s a horrible thing that happened – so out of character and we’re all stunned, but they’re nice people. It’s a place where people walk down the street and say hello. And tonight, we ask God for help. “

Help also came from neighbors.

Karen O’Keefe attended the vigil to show her support for the community; her neighbor’s son is in high school, she said, sitting on a bench in Centennial Park with her husband, Danny. She also heard bits and pieces of what happened that day.

“I was walking at the time of the shooting – I have a three mile run and heard sirens for 45 minutes straight. My son, who lives in Ortonville, called me and I told him about the sirens and then he told me what was going on from the reports, ”O’Keefe said.

“We were welcomed (in Oxford) from day one,” said O’Keefe, who moved to Oxford from Rochester with her husband eight years ago. “There isn’t a person you meet who doesn’t say hello. People are here to support families at school, but people are always giving and helping. During COVID, people raised money. for single moms working in downtown restaurants. Some moms got $ 1,000 or more – that’s just Oxford. “

Members of the crowd needed to lean on each other for more than a Friday night. An apparent medical episode and an alarm prompted the crowd to run briefly, only to learn it was safe. Nerves were clearly on edge during the night, but not enough to deter the crowds, with their makeshift candles, jackets, and blue and yellow clothes.

“I just wanted to be here to support the community and the victims,” Brooksie Pollack said ahead of the rally, huddled in a quilt commemorating her son’s years of running, wrestling and soccer for high school.

Her son graduated in 2010, and she said she cried when she learned of the shooting while babysitting a grandchild.

She noted that Friday’s vigil was her first.

He’s not crying alone either, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said at the vigil. Moms and dads across the state are mourning with parents in Oxford, she said, and family, friends and faith must be close.

“We had one of the worst weeks in Michigan history. But this week we also saw some of the best in each other,” she said. “We have seen the best in our children, who are stronger than we could ever have imagined. We have seen the best in our teachers, who acted quickly and saved lives. We have seen the best in our Meijer employees, who have helped reunite families. We have seen the best in the doctors, nurses and religious leaders who have helped us through this difficult and horrific time. We have seen the best in our first responders who have arrived so quickly. And the best of all the Michiganders, who have donated money to help the community because they don’t know how to help otherwise, but they show love with their action. “

As the village suffers in a particularly unique way, Whitmer recalled the support that poured in – support from afar for their small village which is much more than a place of tragedy.

“There are millions of Americans who are with us in spirit, who send their support, keep you in their prayers, send their love,” she said.

We are all Wildcats: Vigil on Lake Orion honors victims of Oxford High School shooting

Following: Prosecutor expresses anger and frustration by indicting parents of Oxford suspect

Need help

The Michigan Crisis and Access Line (MiCAL) is available in Oakland County. Residents can call or text 844-44-MICAL (844-446-4225) 24/7 for free behavioral health crisis triage, support, resource information and an orientation towards local services. The chat is also available through Michigan.gov/MiCAL.