Every 15 minutes

A coffin is marched up the right side of the auditorium. A single spot light radiates off the closed casket, and the victims from the day before walk up to the podium with hands on each others shoulders. As they read their letters tear streamed down the faces of the victims and the crowd.

Teachers, Juniors, Seniors and faculty gathered into the auditorium to see the end to the crash from the previous day. In the beginning a short video began to play. It was the story behind the crash. The video opened with scenes in a court room and a nervous plaintiff standing in front of a judge. Later the main protagonist is scene receiving a call from his college choice finding out that his application was denied. Later when at the river party he received a break up text from his girl friend sending him into a downward drinking spiral. Teens of all ages are gathered at the river. Then in the video you hear the distress call about the accident and the protagonist flashing back to his memories of hitting the car to being placed in a cell.  The tight cuffs are taken off his hands and he sways through the cell.

The victims dressed in the Every fifteen minutes tee shirts got up in front of their peers and spoke their dying letters to their parents. Some broke down and tears formed in the audiences’ eyes. This moving experience bringing back horrible memories and searing the consequences of drinking and driving.

The speakers Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds spoke about their two sons who were killed in an reckless driver vehicle crash. In back of them family photos of the two children played from when they were first born till the picture of the truck that was flipped upside down and totaled. They told the BUHS students to picture their parents reaction when the police show up to the door with the words that every parent dreads. The expenses that were supposed to go to college tuition, now gets transacted to pay for the tombstone. They asked for the students to never put their parents through the same situation. After they finished speaking, the BUHS Honor Choir got up onto the risers, holding back the emotions the best they could sang Omnia Sol.

The entire experience was moving. As students left, silence was still upon them. The break between the periods was quiet and the halls were close to empty. Overall this assembly has been very effective. It brought forth emotions that most students believe to be benign. The presentation by the speakers and the simulation crash moved students to no longer believe that they are invincible, that they all are human and no one is indestructible. Every action affects the future. Detrimental ones like drinking and driving affect not only the driver but everyone else including the repercussions of the news being given to parents, friends, and communities. One hope for the BUHS students is to take this assembly to heart and refuse to drink and drive or get in the car with someone who is under the influence.