Afghanistan tragedy
This is a very sad time for Woodstock School, and indeed, the world. Two members of our Woodstock community - Dan Terry (Class of '65 and parent) and Tom Little (Parent) - were among the ten individuals ambushed and killed in Afghanistan last week. Dan and Tom laid down their lives in service to some of the poorest and most disenfranchised people in the region. For decades, they risked their lives to bring care and medical aid to remote village communities in the country. Our hearts and prayers go out to their surviving family members and to all the family members of those killed in Afghanistan.
Although there are many Woodstock alumni serving and sacrificing around the world whose stories rarely get told, Dan and Tom, and the 8 other slain members of their team were in the forefront of international news this week. In addition, hundreds of emails, online messages, and tributes have been circulating throughout the WOSA community.
At Woodstock School, on Sunday, August 8th Woodstock students and staff prayed for the Terry and Little families in our monthly chapel. Later in the week, faculty and staff gathered for a special prayer meeting in the Quad auditorium. This has been an especially poignant time as many members of our hillside community had and have close relationships to Dan and his wife Seija and their daughters Hilja ('96), Anneli ('99), and Saara ('02), as well as Tom, his wife Libby and their daughters, Molly ('92), Nelly ('95) and Kathryn ('00.)
To ensure that all members of our community have a chance to see the outpouring of love and support that have been passed on to us throughout the week, we are sending this special email notice to all alumni, former staff, and parents. We have consolidated much of the information we received throughout the week into an "In Memoriam" on the wsalumni.com website that you can access and contribute to by clicking this link.
We encourage Woodstock alumni to visit this site, contribute their memories and reflections, or comment on content that has been added.
Dan used to be the Country Director of Future Generations Afghanistan, and they have set up a Dan Terry Family Fund (click here) where you can make contributions if so led. A special student medical fund (non tax deductible) has also been created by a friend of Dan's daughter Hilja (for more information about this fund email kimberly.becher@gmail.com or call +1-304-382-4799. We are awaiting information about any similar initiative for Tom Little and his family, and will post details as we receive them.