By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–At the end of the day, we’re all on the same team.
Obion Countians.
Students in the Union City School System today showed their support for fellow students at Obion County Schools during this tragic time by altering their usual Spirit Day attire.
Instead of their traditional Purple and Gold Friday theme, many UC students donned the Red and Blue school colors of OCCHS in a gesture that was the idea put into motion by Union City High School Student Government Association president Caroline Conley.
The Obion County Central student body especially, and most all of Obion County is reeling from the disappearance of a pair of students and their chaperone who are still unaccounted for after not returning from a fishing outing Saturday on Pickwick Lake in Hardin County.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, which is now focusing its efforts on the Tennessee River, changed the status of its operation from search and rescue to recovery on Wednesday.
“The idea wasn’t mine alone,” Conley said. “Many students contacted me about doing something to show our support for the friends and families of the Obion County boys.
“I think wearing red and blue is the least we can do to show that we care for our friends down the road.”
Union City High School Principal Jacob Cross gave his blessing to the idea of the change from the usual Friday Purple and Gold theme.
“Our neighbors down the road are hurting and I thought Caroline’s heart was in a great place with this idea,” Cross said. “So many of our kids are friends with students at Obion Central, and they’re hurting for their friends. Several of them know the two young men who are students and they’ve been affected even more so.
“At the end of the day, ours is a kid business and a student business. This (red and blue attire) was just a small way for us to honor those young people and the adult who was with them and to let all those who are struggling know we’re thinking of them and keeping them in our prayers.”
The UCHS Student Government Association also made a poster with the hashtag #ocstrong to show their concern.
School counselors and the system psychologist have been made available to Obion County School System officials by Union City Director of Schools Wes Kennedy.
a