Victoria Week 9: A tragedy that hits close to home

Every year, dancers in North Carolina celebrate the beginning of the holiday season by participating in an extravagant parade in downtown Raleigh. Last Saturday, November 19th, this normally joyous event was the site of a horrific tragedy when an 11 year old dancer was struck and killed by a runaway vehicle. The vehicle involved in the accident was participating in the parade by pulling the display floats from the CC & Company and Dance Complex and carrying the youngest dancers who attend that studio through the parade. A major event like this relies on numerous dedicated volunteers to create a spectacular event, and unfortunately an accident caused by one of them resulted in this tragedy.

This terrifying event hits close to home for me. For a number of years, I participated in this exact parade along with my fellow dance team members. The parade brings back vivid memories of fighting cold and fatigue to achieve the reward of entertaining thousands of onlookers lined up on the sides of the parade. Although there were years I had to contend with rain and logistical challenges, I never imagined that such a wonderful event would someday result in a young girl's death.  Although I still cherish the many years I spent dancing in the parade, I will never view the parade the same way because of this horrific accident. 

This devastating event reminds me of the fragility of life and makes me appreciate good health. 

Do you have any childhood memories that later on decreased its value due to an event? 

On one of the floats being carried by a truck at the annual Raleigh parade in 2010

Right before dancing in the parade in 2015