“Obviously, he lived his life for a reason,” Dana Gamache, mother of 19-year-old Cody Grana, said.
Gamache and hundreds others were gathered at Durand Eastman Beach Park to remember Grana, who was killed in a car accident in Riga on July 27.
“Look at this, this is amazing,” Gamache said as she addressed the crowd of teens, parents, teachers and community members.
Each person in the crowd had a yellow, black or white balloon. Some held red stars, and others with pink or red heart-shaped foil balloons. Messages saying “R.I.P.”, “I love you Cody,” “Fly or Die,” and “Knights 4 Life” — an homage to his alma mater, McQuaid Jesuit High School — were written on the balloons.
I hope you all will do things for Cody — ask for help, which was something he would never do, and most importantly, pay it forward,” Gamache said. “Always take care of the community you’re living in. Tell your kids you love them, everyday.”
And as Gamache’s voice sang out, “I love you Cody,” hundreds of balloons filled the sky as the sun set with vivacious colors. The balloons floated above, as the group watched until each balloon was no longer in sight.
