RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 3 sourcesDrowning Mourners gather along New Jersey river to remember two 10-year-old children who drowned Girl survived because brother pushed her to safety before getting swept away
Lucy Yang has more from Passaic. PASSAIC, N.J. -- People gathered along the Passaic River in New Jersey to remember two 10-year-old children who drowned last week .
More than a hundred mourners came out on Sunday afternoon to drop pink and blue rose petals. Many of them did not know the two victims, but they felt the crush of the tragedy.
The mother of 10-year-old Mikey Klenk Jr. asked that their faces not be shown at the vigil. Her 11-year-old daughter, Hope, survived because her younger brother pushed her to safety before getting swept away himself. Mikey died a hero at 10 years old.
On Wednesday, three young children were playing by a boat ramp in Passaic when things suddenly turned tragic. Mikey's body was found that night.
It would take three days to locate the other victim -- the body of 10-year-old Milian Dula was eventually spotted half a mile down the river.
"My daughter couldn't be here, very distraught, but it's...I can't really say too much right now, but thank you. Thank everybody. Thank you. Thank you. We appreciate the love," said her grandmother, Yolanda Brooks.
Former preschool teacher Lisa Barno remembered Milian when she was only 4 years old.
"She was precious; she was sweet. She was so eager to learn. She had such a bright smile, positive attitude," Barno said.
Many who did not know the children personally came to feel the loss and weep with the family to show them they are not alone.
"I'm thinking of the mothers right now that are just devastated because nobody should ever bury their child, especially so young," said Chris Braitsch, who started a fundraiser for the victims.
The sea of pink and blue rose petals provided quite a beautiful overlay to the tragedy -- to the profound heartache that Mikey and Milian will never come home again.
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