Mother Celebrates Birthday Of Son Lost In Plaza Towers

Balloons were released early Thursday at the site of Plaza Towers Elementary to honor a boy who would have celebrated his 10th birthday.

Thursday, January 16th 2014, 3:05 pm

By: News 9


Balloons were released early Thursday at the site of Plaza Towers Elementary to honor a boy who would have celebrated his 10th birthday. 

Moore school officials say crosses at a makeshift memorial have been removed as the community moves forward. Parents say there are talks of a permanent memorial to be built.

Danni Legg lost her son on May 20. Since then, she has fought to bring storm shelters to every Oklahoma school. That fight continues.

12/15/2013 Related Story: Mom Pleased By Money Donated For Moore School Shelters

Her son, Christopher, would have turned 10 years old Thursday. People from all over the world have reached out to Legg and released balloons for her son Thursday. Legg says her son never met a stranger. He loved playing sports, especially wrestling.

"This is the hardest day so far," Legg said. "Other than those moments right after the tornado, we didn't know where he was at. We didn't find out until the next day. The love and support that we have is just overwhelming. I am very pleased with Moore Public Schools allowing the crosses to stay out here this long so we could have this day."

Legg says the school district is holding meetings discuss building a permanent memorial but no plans have been made public.

On Friday, the last of the crosses at Plaza Towers Elementary were taken down, according to the Moore Public Schools. The crosses were erected shortly after the May 20, 2013 tornado leveled the elementary school, taking the lives of seven third grade students.

Moore Public Schools officials released the following statement Friday morning,

"Earlier today, the last of the crosses at Plaza Towers Elementary were taken down. The crosses were erected shortly after the May 20, 2013 tornado leveled the elementary school, taking the lives of seven third grade students. Each of the seven crosses, and an eighth cross erected to honor the entire school, have stood in memorial for the Plaza Towers community, the City of Moore, the State of Oklahoma, and the Nation. The crosses, along with the stuffed animals, pictures, toys, and letters of condolence have been seen around the world and visited by countless individuals wishing to pay their respects.

Each of the seven families who lost their student to the May 20th storm were given time this week to visit the site before the crosses were taken down. Each family was also given the opportunity to keep their student's cross for their own personal memorial. These same seven families have been working with the district to decide how best to memorialize their students as part of the reconstructed Plaza Towers Elementary school. Those plans are ongoing and nearing completion."

logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

January 16th, 2014

March 22nd, 2024

March 14th, 2024

February 9th, 2024

Top Headlines

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024