Lee Anderson’s Message to Central Oregon
I want to take a moment to speak to you from the heart - neighbor to neighbor in the community I’ve called home for three decades.
The shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School has shaken us to our core.
Families are facing unimaginable heartbreak. Children are trying to make sense of something none of us should ever have to experience, let alone a child. And all of us are struggling to process what happened - and what it means for a place we all call home.
In moments like this, there are no easy answers, no words that can undo the pain, and no simple path forward.
But there are things we can do. We can show up for one another. We can listen, offer comfort, extend compassion, and make sure those who are hurting know they are not alone.
We can come together - not because we have all the answers, but because difficult moments are best faced together.
For 30 years, I’ve had the privilege of sharing the stories of Central Oregon. If this community has taught me anything, it’s that its strength is found in its people - in the kindness they extend, the care they give, and the way they stand beside one another when it matters most.
As we move through the days ahead, our commitment is to be here for you: to bring you the facts, ask the difficult questions, and share the information and resources you need, along with stories of people making a difference.
Just as importantly, we’ll make space for this community to grieve, come together, remember those whose lives have been lost, and begin the difficult process of healing.
Healing doesn’t happen overnight, and it will look different for every family, every child, and every person affected by this tragedy.
We can’t take away the pain, but we can help make sure no one has to navigate this moment alone.
Because “Central Oregon strong” doesn’t mean we aren’t hurting. It means we care enough to show up for one another, carry one another through the hardest days, and keep moving forward together - one day, one act of kindness, one step at a time.
We are your neighbors. We are part of this community. And we’ll be here in the days ahead.
Sincerely,
Lee Anderson
