UPPER LAKE — Felicia Valdez couldn”t read the letter she wanted most on Thursday.
Her dad, Ward Beecher, died Tuesday.
“I lost my dad,” Valdez said. “He was my life.”
Valdez acted as the drunken driver Wednesday during a simulated crash on Clover Valley Road just across the fence from Upper Lake High School as part of Every 15 Minutes. The program aims to teach high school students not to drink and drive with a car crash scene and a Grim Reaper who took “dead” students out of class every 15 minutes on Wednesday. That night, “dead” students and Valdez wrote letters to their parents while on a retreat. The parents also wrote letters to their children.
In her dad”s stead, Valdez”s brothers wrote her letters. Chris Beecher read his aloud to an assembly Thursday with about 370 Upper Lake and Clover Valley high school students as well as teachers, staff, volunteers and community members.
Beecher said their dad would have been proud of her.
“Felicia, we love you. We already miss you,” Beecher said. “You”re the best sister in the world.”
Valdez read her brothers” letters before the assembly.
“It really touched me, hearing from him what my dad would have said to me,” she said.
Even though he wouldn”t be able to read it, Valdez wrote a letter to her dad on Wednesday.
“It was the hardest part for me last night ? writing to him ? trying to thank him when he”s not here,” she said.
Valdez was among many people in the assembly who grieved at the idea of losing a loved one, only her grief was real.
She said she pulled it together to play her part in the Every 15 Minutes program Wednesday and Thursday for her dad.
“I know he wanted me to do it,” Valdez said. “I did it for him.”
The Grim Reaper took 13 students and one teacher from classrooms Wednesday as well as two students involved in the simulated crash. The “walking dead” include Jose Ruiz, Shelby Meri, Trevor Bloom, Kelly Strong, Joseph Hill, Courtney Havrilla, Cameron Beighle, Charlie Coburn, Shayla Wyman, Mark Umalin, Daniela Arteaga, Shyenne Bates, Angel Hernandez Cortez, science teacher John Woods and “car crash victims” Yessica Ayala and Katherine Edmonds. Rickki DeMartini played a passenger with major injuries in the crash.
At the assembly, bagpipes led the way for a white casket, with the “walking dead” following the Grim Reaper.
Superintendent and principal Pat Iaccino told the crowd he wants students to understand the importance of the program.
“Remember, you have the power to make the right choice, the choice that will affect you and the people around you every day of your life,” Iaccino said.
Strong read a poem, “The Death of Innocence,” at the lectern.
“I went to this party, mom, I remember what you said. You told me not to drink so I drank a soda instead ? The party”s finally ending, mom, as everyone drove out of sight ? I started to drive away, mom, as I pulled into the road. The other guy didn”t see me, mom, and hit me like a load. I lay there on the pavement, mom, I hear the policeman say the other guy was drunk, mom, and now I am the one to pay. I have one last question, mom, before I say goodbye. I didn”t drink, mom, so why am I the one to die? This is the end, mom, I wish I could look you in the eye. To say the final words, mom, I love you and goodbye.”
The crowd then watched a video produced by sunNaction of the crash and following the teenagers to the jail, the hospital and the morgue. Students, parents and community members cried.
Hernandez Cortez, Sheriff Rod Mitchell and Laura Farris and her son, Joshua, of Clearlake spoke to the crowd.
Officer Steve Tanguay of California Highway Patrol told the people they have the choice to save a life.
“When it comes to drinking and driving, there are no makeup tests, no do-overs, no misunderstandings,” Tanguay said.
Valdez said her dad knew her well, to push her to participate in Every 15 Minutes.
“He thought it was a good experience for me,” Valdez said. “He wants me to understand drinking affects other people, not me just having fun.”
“I never really realized it until I experienced this,” she said.
Sponsors of the program include CHP, California Office of Traffic Safety, Northshore Fire Protection District, Lake County Sheriff”s Office, Lake County District Attorney and Victim Witness offices, REACH, Clearlake police, Lakeport police, AAA, Last Mile Auto, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, AODS, Richard and Dace McCarty, Hilltop Recovery, C&G Enterprises, Bernard & Lynn Butcher, Upper Lake Community Council, Lakeport Christian Center, Hi-Way Grocery, The Finish Line, N.S.B.A., Ferndale Resort, Country Carpets, Judy”s Junction, Keith”s Auto Repair, Olivia”s Organics, Denise Rushing, Woody”s Gas, H&R Block, D.J. Kevi Kev, Fil”s Upper Cuts, Powell”s Antiques, Sisevich Tire, Gracious Ladies, Second Time Around, John Tomkins, Expressions of Faith and the staff, parents, students and friends of Upper Lake High School.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
