A Portland elementary school will hold a vigil Thursday for two children who died Saturday after being pulled into the ocean along Oregon’s Coast.
Vestal Elementary School said on its Facebook page the community gathering for Lola and William Stiles will take place at the school’s auditorium from 6 to 7 p.m.
Lola Stiles, 7, was a student at the Montavilla neighborhood school. She died after a wave swept her into the ocean during the King Tide last week. Her 4-year-old brother and her father were also pulled into the ocean. The boy is still missing.
"The Vestal and Montavilla Community will gather and hold space for Lola and William," the school wrote on its Facebook post for the vigil. "Let us open our hearts to mourn and to acknowledge, through compassion, the sorrows of family and all of us affected by this tragedy."
A spokesperson for the family said last week that the children's father, Jeremy Stiles, was recovering from hypothermia.
Vestal said it has been providing counseling services for its students following the tragedy.
Students from Lola's class also painted canvasses of hearts that mourners will be able to sign at the vigil.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Manzanita, Oregon, held a similar vigil for the children Wednesday night.
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