Fairport, N.Y. - Terry Congdon didn't plan on speaking at a somber mass to mark the anniversary of the accident which killed his daughter Hannah and four friends.
But he got up to the pulpit and spoke from the heart following the service to remember the five girls: Bailey Goodman, Meredith McClure, Sara Monnat, Katie Shirley and his daughter, Hannah Congdon.
Congdon said: "I'm struck by the love and support from the church family, my friends and family...I just wanted to say how grateful we are, I think I speak for the five families."
He said his family "didn't corner the market on tragedy" but did corner the market on the amount of support from those around them.
He closed by saying thanks. "God bless you. God bless Fairport, our families and friends. We love you. We couldn't do it without you."
The private mass was a way for the families to memorialize their daughters.
Church of the Assumption Pastor Father Ed Palumbos says it was a beautiful remembrance, filled with hope. The media was asked not to attend. But Father Palumbos shared with us a church video of the mass.
He said the families didn't remember the accident that took their daughters lives, they remembered that this tragedy brought together five families and an entire community.
A memorial blood drive Friday at St. John Church in Fairport will be held in honor of the girls to help save lives of those needing blood.
That event is from 12 to 7 p.m.
If you can't attend, the Red Cross encourages you to donate at blood donation centers this week in Greece, Perinton, Rochester, or West Henrietta.
