The Daily O’Collegian

A once separated Stillwater showed its color by banding together and shouldering those in need.

Before the tragedy, people lived to do their own things. Everyone lived together, yet had separate lives.

Some people studied nightly. Others frequented establishments or invested their time in alternative means. But there were no common bonds for the community.

Then came a fateful Saturday when Oklahoma State University lost 10 of its finest — Nate Fleming, Daniel Lawson, Bill Teegins, Pat Noyes, Denver Mills, Will Hancock, Brian Luinstra, Jared Weiberg, Kendall Durfey and Bjorn Fahlstrom.

Although the plane crash stole some of Stillwater’s spirit, the tragedy sent strength into the arms of the Cowboy faithful — helping hold up the families and loved ones of our No. 10.

Since that day, OSU and Stillwater have come together. There no longer exists a great divide that makes one person different from the other — we are all Cowboys wearing our colors with pride.

It is truly sad that it has taken a tragedy to bring our community together, but this bond would make No. 10 proud.

For many people the Cowboys have always been “champions of the heart.” Although the Cowboys have garnered many national championships, respect from other universities has been tough to find, but the Cowboys have always shown their love and support through the worst of years.

As the story of No. 10 began to unfold, amazingly unselfish support rained down upon campus on a dreary day in Stillwater.

Words of faith, love and sorrow flooded Stillwater from around the state, nation and world.

Even archrivals sent their support.

Nothing has said more than the letters we’ve received filled with prayers and poems from students and supporters of other universities.

These letters show the never ending boundaries of the OSU community.

In all our future endeavors, No. 10 will be remembered by all. And with that will come respect from our opponents who have given their support to us in our time of tragedy.

However, there are some people who are burdened by the support that No. 10 is receiving. They have called and written to tell their thoughts on the issue.

Some of them think the support is biased because the plane crash involved a sports team. But that idea represents bias in itself.

Every Cowboy in this family is as important as another whether you are a scholar, athlete, professor or just another Cowboy.

But while we begin to turn our hats away from this tragedy and toward the future, we must realize that other parts of the family are suffering right now because of an earthquake that destroyed many parts of India.

Tens of thousands of people have died including some family members of OSU students.

While we continue to support No. 10, we also must extend our arms to our Cowboy friends from India.

As our family begins to move forward from this tragedy, it’s important to remember that there will be some people who were more affected by this tragedy.

If you know them or see them walking around, give them your support, a helping hand or just talk to them and let them know you care.

Treat them with care not only because of what happened, but because they are your family.

Although No. 10 may not have accomplished his original mission at OSU, a secondary and more important objective has been secured — building a common family bond for the OSU community.