Memorial service to be held tomorrow

An in-school memorial service for Paris Essoumba will be held tomorrow during sixth period. Students who wish to attend may sign up in their fourth period classes, according to senior class president Tamara Taylor.

Essoumba, who was a senior and a member of the varsity football team, died on Feb. 1 at his home in Silver Spring. Essoumba's funeral was held on Feb. 8, but Taylor believes this additional step will help Blazers deal with his death. "I think even after the funeral this is a good idea," she said. "It kind of allows us to heal together. It allows us to come together as a Blair community." Taylor and senior class vice president Olayinka Oladiran are organizing the event together.

The service is intended to allow Blazers who knew Essoumba a chance to mourn together. "The majority of people will be people in the senior class, on the football team, people in his classes or in Those Guys," Taylor said.

The service will consist of a video presentation and poetry and singing performances. "We're also going to have a huge poster memorial that everyone can look at," Taylor said. Some of the performers will include seniors Michelyn Bouknight and Sierra Shepherd, who also recited poetry at Essoumba's funeral.