Joe Ross:
Somewhere Down the Road
[purchase]
I live in
Roseburg, Oregon, the town now known worldwide for the mass shooting that took
place at Umpqua Community College on October 1, 2015 where nine people lost
their lives, and nine others were injured. It was in an introductory writing class that the shooting took place, and I ponder what these students and their teacher would've penned if they had been asked to compose something related to music and the future.
The victims of this tragedy included:
* Lucero
Alcaraz, 19, of Roseburg
• Quinn Glen
Cooper, 18, of Roseburg
• Kim
Saltmarsh Dietz, 59, of Roseburg
• Lucas Eibel,
18, of Roseburg
• Jason Dale
Johnson, 33, of Winston
• Lawrence
Levine, 67, of Glide. Levine was the teacher inside of the classroom.
• Sarena Dawn
Moore, 44, of Myrtle Creek
• Treven
Taylor Anspach, 20, of Sutherlin
• Rebecka Ann
Carnes, 18, of Myrtle Creek
Their futures were
cut short, and we carry their names in our heavy hearts. Our entire community is heartbroken and grieves their loss. In their memory and as
a tribute to them, I’d like to post a song I once wrote and recorded called “Somewhere
Down the Road.” It speaks to the optimism and ideals that a young person might
hold as they prepare for the future.
Unfortunately, the
future for these nine has put them “Through Heaven’s Gate,” another song
written to describe their new home – in a glory land with jasper walls, golden
bells, angel band and harps of gold.
