I pulled into the parking lot next to HSE High School’s Reynolds Royals Stadium 35 minutes before the scheduled balloon release in honor of Mason Alexander.  I took one of the last parking spots left.

Walking to the field, all I could see were students and some adults waiting to enter the stadium with their balloons.  The number of people crowding the field numbered into the thousands.

It was a well behaved and quiet crowd.  They were there to remember a former fellow student that had touched so many lives during his time at HSE.

Mason Alexander had committed to play football at the University of Pittsburgh (known also as just Pitt).  He had graduated from HSE in December but wanted to walk with his classmates in the graduation ceremony this coming June.

He was killed in a tragic car crash at 113th Street and Florida Road Saturday night.

Once the balloons were released at 5:15pm Monday, the crowd stood quiet and staid.  There were some public address comments.  Even then, students didn’t seem to want to leave.  They quietly spoke to each other.

Below is a news conference held by Hamilton Southeastern High School Head Football Coach Michael Kelly, talking about Mason Alexander.