Vigil Mourns, Celebrates Lives of Child Crash Victims

Hundreds of mourners gathered Thursday night at Christ Church Episcopal in downtown Greenville to remember the lives of the five children lost when their plane crashed in Alaska this past Sunday.

A standing-room only crowd packed the All Saints Center at the venerable, 4,000-member church, where the Antonakos and McManus families had spent so much of their time preceding the horrific crash that claimed each of their lives this past Sunday in Soldotna, Alaska.

Another candlelight is planned this morning at the church at 11 a.m. to honor and remember both families, including parents Melet and Kim Antonakos and Chris and Stacey McManus.

On Thursday, church members were joined by youth groups from several other area congregations to focus on the children lost in the crash, which included Olivia, Mills and Ana Antonakos, along with Meghan and Connor McManus, all of whom were vital members of the church along with their parents.

Friends recounted memories of the five children during the somber affair, and reflected on their loss.

A 17-year-old girl and fellow church member who knew both families said afterward, "There's just this huge hole in my heart, in all our hearts. I haven't stopped crying since I heard about it. The shock is just like, unbelievable. Everybody's been saying just how incredible they all were, and it's true. All true. They were just the best people. They were just so — alive. Nothing will ever be the same again."

The Rev. Keith Turbeville said, "Today we are here to celebrate the lives of five wonderful friends, Meghan, Olivia, Mills, Connor and Ana. Celebrating — what a funny word to be using at a time like this. Celebration is to be fun, full of laughter, and joy.

"I wish I could tell you something that could ease our pain; I wish I could magically say something that would make this all go away; I wish I could say something that would ease all our souls. But sometimes we can't find the words," Turbeville said. "Like you, my heart is broken. I have questions. I'm hurt; I'm saddened. I miss my friends."

Turbeville commended the five lost children for being true witnesses to their Christian faith, which radiated love to others around them and was reflected in the large turnout and the incredible outpouring of emotion since Sunday's accident.

"An example of this love is all the messages I have seen on Facebook," the Reverend said. "I have been reading so many of your Facebook messages and they are beautiful. The messages really express the love you had for Olivia, Meghan, Ana, Mills and Connor and I know they would say the same thing about you."

Turbeville said reading all the messages, emails and texts struck him as a teachable moment.

"Why do we wait to say the most beautiful things to someone until after they are gone?" he asked. "Whether they are friends, grandparents, uncles, aunts, or maybe even a pet, we tend to save our deepest feelings until after one is gone. But the truth is, we need to say how we feel now. If we love someone, tell them. If we like someone, show them. If we meet someone new, include them.

It was because of their great faith and belief in Christ that Turbeville said he was able to witness such attributes in each of the parish's lost children.

"They were always friendly, caring, loving, and of course always including others," Turbeville said. "After all, you are living examples of their beautiful and loving nature. It was their way of mirroring Christ."