PASSAIC, N.J. — A community gathered along the banks of the Passaic River in New Jersey to honor two 10-year-old children who drowned there last week.
More than 100 mourners came together Sunday afternoon, releasing pink and blue rose petals into the water. Many had never met the children, but the heartbreak of the Passaic River tragedy was felt far beyond their families.
The mother of 10-year-old Mikey Klenk Jr. asked that their faces not be shown during the vigil. Her 11-year-old daughter, Hope, survived after her younger brother pushed her toward safety before he was swept away. Mikey died at just 10 years old, remembered by loved ones as a hero.
The tragedy unfolded Wednesday, when three young children were playing near a boat ramp in Passaic and the afternoon took a devastating turn. Mikey’s body was recovered later that night.
Search crews continued looking for the second child for three days. The body of 10-year-old Milian Dula was eventually found about half a mile down the river.
“My daughter couldn’t be here, very distraught, but it’s…I can’t really say too much right now, but thank you. Thank everybody. Thank you. Thank you. We appreciate the love,” said Milian’s grandmother, Yolanda Brooks.
Lisa Barno, Milian’s former preschool teacher, said she still remembers the girl from when she was just 4 years old.
“She was precious; she was sweet. She was so eager to learn. She had such a bright smile, positive attitude,” Barno said.
Many who did not know the children personally came to feel the loss and weep with the family to show them they are not alone.
“I’m thinking of the mothers right now that are just devastated because nobody should ever bury their child, especially so young,” said Chris Braitsch, who started a fundraiser for the victims.
The sea of pink and blue rose petals provided quite a beautiful overlay to the tragedy — to the profound heartache that Mikey and Milian will never come home again.
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