by Troy Chavkin
Daily Lobo
University College Dean Peter White said planting a tree helps bring life out of death.
White, along with other UNM students and staff, planted a tree Thursday to remember the five people allegedly murdered Aug. 18 by John Hyde.
"It's a truth Cedar - a very beautiful, very long-lived tree," said Bryan Suhr of UNM Physical Plant.
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He and his staff selected the cedar tree and made the preparation for its planting. Suhr said it could easily grow to be 300 years old, and would stand as a monument for UNM students, as well as their children and grandchildren, to remember.
Hyde has been charged with the murders of Albuquerque Police Officers Michael King and Richard Smith, along with motorcycle shop employees Garrett Iversen, 22, David Fisher, 17, and transportation worker Benny Lopez, 54.
The memorial was organized through a Freshman Learning Community course called Making a Difference.
Glenda Balas, a founder of the program, said the ceremony was their class project.
"I asked them what they wanted to do for their service learning project for the course," Balas said. "They said that they wanted to do something to express their sympathy and grief about the five victims of the shootings in August."
After a few more people had their chance to speak before the group, everyone gathered around the tree, which was placed in its hole to be planted.
Balas and White poured the first two scoops of earth onto the roots of the cedar.
About 16 students from the class formed a line and moved one shovel full of dirt each, planting the tree into the ground.
Albuquerque Ambulance, Albuquerque Fire Department and UNM Police Department were also present at the ceremony.
Families of all five victims attended the ceremony.
"I couldn't be prouder of the students," said White, as the victim's families planted daffodil bulbs around the tree. "Every time students pass this tree they can understand the tragedy that was involved."
Students presented five gift baskets to the families, and everyone gathered around the tree for a moment of silence.
Brandon Kirk, a student who helped organize the ceremony, said what the class liked about the tree idea was that it would allow people to remember the victims for a long time.
"I think that we students definitely need an opportunity to remember what happened," he said.
Olimpia Sais, a student in the class, said they had been planning the ceremony since the beginning of the course. She hoped the tree would give the families a way to honor their loss, she said.
Dave Fisher, father of David Fisher who was murdered at Rider Valley Motorcycles, said he was grateful for the class's involvement.
"For a class to contribute something like this is just awesome," he said. "It's inspiring to me to see what the student body has done here. This is going to be here long after you and I are gone."
