Seniors dedicate colorful pinwheels in memory of Brooke Hendley

Blake Hendley's remarks at dedication

Family, friends and classmates, thank you so much for coming here today.  As we prepare to graduate, many of us look back on years at Stratford.  For me, there’s always a small void when I think about significant events in my life.  Brooke, my twin sister, was taken from us too early.  For six years she was my best friend and my first classmate at Stratford.  Many of you also shared a friendship with Brooke, starting in 4-K.  In the short year she shared with us at Stratford, she brought a smile to everybody’s face and made an impact on each and every one of our lives.  In our family, Brooke was always the hard-headed one, but many will say that I share that trait, as many twins act alike.

To give an example, as I was talking with my Mom about this dedication we were reminiscing about Brooke. When we toddlers, my Mom had us both strapped into our booster seats for dinner. Brooke grabbed a handful of rice, held it out over the floor, smiled coyly, and waited for a response. My Dad said, “Don’t you do it!” She dropped it and picked up another handful…same scenario. This time my Dad used his serious voice and said, “I mean it, don’t you do it again.” Gleefully she did it again. She was never intimidated and even as a toddler, she knew my Dad was a pushover. I like to think she was squeezing a lot of joy and fun out of her short life.

We think about Brooke every day. I miss her at every birthday and milestone, but she’s never truly missing. We carry her everywhere. She would love this area and I hope many preschoolers think of its beauty even though they will never know the beauty Brooke brought to school each day.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

May there be years of playful dancing in this place. As I walk across the stage next month to receive my diploma, I’ll be sharing the accomplishment with my sister, celebrating her life and joy she brought to so many in such a short time.