“She was a true Daddy’s girl,” Marc Olsen said. “She was my shadow, like gum on my shoe, she was always there.
“She gave more that she ever expected in return,” he said. “I know this is not the end. I know that when I take my last breath, I will see her again.”
Many of those in attendance wore camouflage, which is what Emilie like to wear. A DVD of photos from Emilie’s life was played, accompanied by her favorite music. Friends Leah Schmitz, Mason Adams and Taylor Adams shared their thoughts and memories of Emilie.
“Emilie had a beautiful smile and contagious laugh,” said Mason Adams, one of her friends. “Such an amazing person with a beautiful heart.”
Marc and Cynthia Olsen told the Journal-News last year, just days after Emilie’s death, that their daughter endured physical and cyber bullying while a student at the middle school and in the previous year while at the Fairfield City Schools intermediate school. While many of her friends also said she was bullied, Fairfield Twp. police said they could not prove it because very few people were cooperating with their investigation.
Fairfield schools has come under fire from parents and members of the local Asian American community for the district’s perceived lack of action on bullying. Despite repeated assurances from the district that they are taking matters seriously and have been working to prevent bullying even before Emilie’s death, many in the community remain skeptical.
It was announced during the ceremony that the Asian Community Alliance would be presenting a seminar on Jan. 23 titled “Bully-Proofing Youth.” Jim Bisenius, an expert on anti-bullying and a child and adolescent therapist, will conduct the seminar, which will take place from 1-3:30 p.m. at Miami University’s Voice of America campus in West Chester. The seminar is for parents and students ages 10-16, according to a flyer handed out at the event.
Rev. Scott Swelbar, pastor of Community Christian Church in Fairfield Twp., where the vigil was held, told the audience that even though Emilie’s life was short, it had great significance.
“Everything she was and everything she was about and everything that has happened in the past year is significant,” Swelbar said. “Things in your life will change because of who she is.”
The pastor said Emilie’s life was uniting the lives of everyone inside the church that evening.
“Her life is impacting you today; it will impact you tomorrow; and I pray that it will impact, for those of you who are students, impact your children to understand that it doesn’t have to be this way,” he said. “Even though she couldn’t speak for herself, you can speak for yourselves.”
Emilie’s father and several friends came up on stage and lit candles, which they took into the audience to light other candles that were held by attendees. Some people had battery-operated candles that they turned on in memory of Emilie.
Marc Olsen thank everyone for attending and show his family so much support during a difficult period in their lives.
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