Whether it’s Easter Sunday, or just another day of the week, all of these churches have been reaching out to their congregations in a variety of way to offer hope, comfort, and companionship from afar. Phone calls, mail, online messages have all come into play. The Amanda Johnston (MS Activities Director) and Richard Thacker (HS AD) announced last Friday, April 10, that the Eagle Grove Area School District will be taking part in the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association (IHSADA) inspired “Light Up Iowa” solidarity event. It is scheduled to take place every Friday night for the duration of school closings during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is intended to honor all of the athletes who are unable to participate in their regular sports season.
“Everyone is invited to participate in this voluntary program as we seek to “Light Up Iowa” by lighting up our stadiums at 8 p.m. each Friday night,” IHSADA said in a press release.
As the lights went on at the football and softball/baseball stadiums in Eagle Grove last Friday, it wasn’t like every other time. Instead of taking them for granted, it made you stop and realize what a gift it is to be able to come out and watch the student athletes compete. Whether you’re coming to watch your child, grandchild, or just coming out for love of the game and support of all athletes (like Eagle Grove’s biggest fan Jim Toillion). The lights are about more than just making it easier to see. They represent all the hard work, determininatin, struggles and successes these kids endure to represent Eagle Grove. COVID-19 is a different kind of struggle, leaving many of them feeling out of sorts, thinking about what their springs sports season might have been like – especially for the seniors.
Lights will be left on for one minute for each day students have been out of school. In the first night of this event, lights were left on this past Friday evening for 15 minutes, representing the 15 days (not counting weekends) of missed athletic training and/or competition. Next Friday night, April 17, they will remain on for 20 minutes, and so on.
The community is encouraged to post pictures of the lights you can view from your homes (if you can) or driving by in your cars, but please be sure to model recommended social distancing protocols. Please use the hashtag “lightupIA”
Instead of focusing on “what could have been,” athletes in Eagle Grove and around the nation are being forced to look instead at “what they hope can be.” We hope that they will be able to return for at least some of their spring sports season and all of their summer games. But for now, we wait. As the saying goes, “And the world came together as the people stayed apart.” Next Friday night, look out your window or take a quick drive in your car and look at the stadium lights and let it be a sign that our community is standing together – but from afar.
