Yesterday, the North Canton community gathered in solidarity to mourn the tragic loss of Matthew Schultz, a 13-year-old who died in a Memorial Day parade accident. In the spirit of remembrance, participants at the vigils held at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church and Witwer Park wore blue, the teen's favorite color. They brought light sabers, glow sticks, and flashlights to honor his love for "Star Wars," as reported by Cleveland 19.
The vigils were attended by hundreds, where amongst the congregation, the presence of stormtroopers and Jedi from the 501st Legion, an international "Star Wars" costume club, stood out. David Hise, commanding officer of the Ohio Garrison, dressed as a freedom fighter, joined to pay tribute to Matthew. In a statement detailed by News 5 Cleveland, Hise explained, "A lot of our members were there at the parade on Monday, and we recognize where this hole is in the community."
During the emotional gathering at Witwer Park, attendees also heard from Matthew's family. North Canton City Schools offered their heartfelt condolences, expressing a deep sense of loss in a statement. According to WKYC, "The loss of a young life is deeply devastating, and our thoughts and prayers are with Matthew's family, friends, classmates, and teachers during this unimaginable time. He was a kind and caring student."
