Horace Mann Families React to Moszer Funeral

Students at Horace Mann are only in the kindergarten through 2nd grade classes, so they’re pretty young to learn about loss so early.

And whatever you think little children should learn about this tough life lesson, it’s one nobody much likes learning.

“You want to keep them in the bubble, but then again you also want to teach them what they need to know to keep them safe,” said parent Dena Walp.

Just steps away from the shooting, it’s a lesson too many of these kids have learned.

While parents like Walp are straightforward with their kids — “I told her last night, that someone got mad, and shots were fired, and an officer was  hit and killed” — others are hoping to tell them as little as possible.

“I know he knows about it because they put on the blue ribbons,” said Mary Row, of her grandchild at Horace Mann. “I’m kind of waiting to hear what he has to say.”

“We’re good friends with a Cass County deputy, so that’s his favorite police officer,” said parent Tanya Crocker.  Her voice shook as she continued. “My husband had to tell him there was a shooting with a police officer.”

Whether or not all the kids at Horace Mann understand not all stories have a happy ending, it’s clear that these parents get high marks in this life lesson, just by being here.