Raindrops mixed with tears Friday as McAdoo said goodbye to Madison.
Madison Arner, 6, died Monday of complications from smoke inhalation two days after a late-night fire destroyed her family's home at 25 S. Kennedy Drive, McAdoo.
Families of the greater McAdoo and Kline Township community gathered Friday evening at the McAdoo Fire Company to bid a public farewell to the little girl everyone knew as full of fun and laughter.
The memorial event, which included a candlelight vigil and balloon launch, was organized by Jennifer Wesner and her husband, Robbie, owners of Bearly Used Kids Stuff, a thrift and consignment shop, and Wes' Health Foods, both located on Kennedy Drive a few doors away from the fire-ravaged home where Madison lived with her mother, Lorraine Searfoss, and other family members.
Madison's family attended the event, but declined public comment.
"Physically, they're OK from the fire. But Lorraine (Madison's mother) said she's taking it hour by hour," Jennifer Wesner said.
Members of the McAdoo Fire Company and Rob Vanemon of Our Town Radio, a local online radio station and social networking site for fans and bands, helped organize the event.
The Wesners said they wanted to give children of the community who knew Madison an opportunity, not only to grieve her tragic death, but to celebrate her life.
"This is for everybody to grieve, everybody to celebrate Maddie," Jennifer Wesner said.
"The kids who knew Maddie may not all be able to go to her funeral. But the kids need to grieve," Robbie Wesner said. "Next year when they go back to school, when they're on the bus and at school assemblies, Maddie isn't going to be there. The kids need to grieve and heal."
Storms rolled across the region in the hour before the 7:30 memorial, dumping heavy rain on the community. But as families gathered outside the fire company, located across the street from the scene of the deadly fire, the clouds broke apart and the rain slowed to an occasional drizzle. As candles were lit and passed out to the people in the crowd, a rainbow emerged from the rain clouds, arching high over the house where Madison lived.
Our Town Radio's Rob Vanemon played some of Madison's favorite songs on an outdoor sound system. Schuylkill County Commissioner George Halcovich opened the event with words of encouragement to the community and gratitude to the firefighters and police.
"No one wanted this to happen. Faith in God gets us beyond this," Halcovich said. "Stay strong. Stay together. You are a great community. You are great people."
Wesner held the microphone open to anyone who wanted to step forward to share a memory or simply bid farewell.
Halcovich helped the Wesners pass out 100 colorful helium-filled balloons to the children and families in the crowd. On the count of three with happy thoughts of Madison's joyful personality, the rain-dappled balloons were released, floating slowly skyward.
Candles were distributed and lit, casting a soft glow of candlelight over a moment of silence in Madison's memory.