We can’t let Oct. 24 go by without asking our community to pray:

•For the families of the Marysville-Pilchuck High School shooting victims four years ago. I did not know any of them, but I do have children and grandchildren and can’t imagine the pain. Friends of mine knew Gia Soriano and her family. The other female victims were Zoe Galasso and Shaylee Chuckulnaskit. My heart breaks thinking back just of the photographs I saw of them. Pray for Andrew Fryberg, a cousin of the shooter, who also died. Pray for healing for Nate Hatch, another cousin of the perpetrator, who survived. Pray for all their families. We don’t know what else to say to them except we know many others in this community care deeply for all of you in your losses even as we try to move on in life.

•Pray for those who were near the shooting when it happened. They had to witness something no one should ever have to see. Pray especially for the two girls who were sitting at the same table as the victims, including another cousin of the shooter.

•Pray for then-first-year social studies teacher Megan Silberger, who tried to apprehend the shooter. What a horrible thing to have to go through. God bless you for your efforts.

•Pray for school resource officer Chris Sutherland. I have come to know him the past few years in writing various stories. He is a strong man with a heart of gold. He was one of the first to respond to the scene. Pray for God to bless him and keep him healthy in body, mind and spirit.

•Pray for the 150 or so people, mostly students, who were in the cafeteria at the time. Not only did they witness the tragedy, but they also surely feared for their lives. Pray that God provides them with some semblance of peace.

•Pray for Marysville law enforcement and first-responders. They were called to do amazing things that day. Pray also for the chaplains, who tried to help the community through a tremendous amount of grief.

•Pray for the Tulalip Tribes and their tragic loss of such young lives. •Pray for the Marysville community, which has shown its support then and now.

•Pray that our communities learn from this tragedy and continue to work together to educate our young people about love and life. Pray that we continue to work to make our schools safer. Pray that we continue to work on mental health for all who suffer from that affliction. Pray that we can talk about gun laws that don’t end 2nd Amendment rights, but do keep guns away from those who shouldn’t have them – for whatever reason.

•Pray that we never forget, but remain M-P Strong.