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17 desks for the 17 fallen: Loudon Co. school honors school shooting victims

Students at Philadelphia Elementary School took 17 empty desks and wrote messages to the 17 who died in the Parkland, Fla. high school shooting in February.

LOUDON COUNTY, Tenn. (WBIR) - Students, faculty and staff at Philadelphia K-8 Elementary School took time this week to honor the 17 who died in a Florida high school shooting as well as support each other through a difficult time in America.

On Wednesday, 7th and 8th graders gathered in the school's gym to remember the 17 victims of the Feb. 14 shooting in Parkland, Fla. and create a special message. The students took 17 empty desks, writing the name of each victim on one along with messages of support, grief and inspiration.

Students at Philidelphia Elementary School left messages on 17 desks to the the 17 who died in school shooting in Parkland, Fla.

The desks will be on display at the school for 17 days.

Students also led discussions about what they could do to prevent similar tragedies and make the school a better place. Some students gathered to pray for those lost and their families.

K-8 students at Philadelphia Elementary in Loudon County write messages on 17 desks and gather in memory of the 17 who died.

"We have some really great students and we are proud of the way they responded to this tragedy," PES counselor Kelly Jones said.

Students at Philidelphia Elementary School in Loudon County etch messages to the 17 who died in Florida on desks. (Photo: PES)

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