So we know who they were. The kids and heroic adults of my community.

Aaron Feis, 37
Assistant Football Coach, former security guard and alumni of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where he worked for 8 years. He threw himself on top of the kids as a human shield to protect them from the spray of bullets. Chad Lyons, a student and football player, said Feis was there for him when he was going through leukemia treatments. "He guided me through them. He would send me prayers. He would send me Bible scripts and just stuff to cheer up my day. Funny memes. He was just an amazing person."

Alaina Petty, 14
Freshman. Alaina was described as vibrant and determined by family. Volunteered to clean up her community with her church group after Hurricane Irma passed through in September. Member of Junior ROTC at school.

Alex Schachter, 14
He attended high school with his brother, who survived. His father Max says he was a "sweetheart of a child" who "just wanted to do well and please his parents." He played trombone in the marching band.

Alyssa Alhadeff, 14
Alyssa's mother remembers her daughter as a talented soccer player and creative writer with an amazing personality. "Honor Alyssa by doing something fabulous in your life. Don’t ever give up and inspire for greatness," her family said in a note to her friends shared by the soccer club. "Live for Alyssa! Be her voice and breathe for her."

Cara Loughran, 14
Cara danced at the Drake School of Irish Dance in South Florida. "Cara was a beautiful soul and always had a smile on her face," the dance studio said. "We are heartbroken as we send our love and support to her family during this horrible time." Cara loved the beach. Her aunt Lindsay Fontana says, "We are absolutely gutted. While your thoughts are appreciated, I beg you to DO SOMETHING. This should not have happened to our niece Cara and it cannot happen to other people's families."

Carmen Schentrup, 16
Carmen was a gifted, stand-out student who was named as a semifinalist in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. Schentrup had recently gone on a college visit to the University of Washington, her cousin Matt Brandow said in a Facebook post, calling her the "most intelligible 16 year old I’ve ever met." He says, "I love you with all my heart and I’m going to miss you every single living day. I would switch places with you in a second."

Chris Hixon, 49
Athletic Director and Wrestling Coach. Veteran U.S. Navy Reserves, deployed to Iraq in 2007. He died rushing toward the gunfire to try to protect students. He leaves behind a wife and a special needs son. Described by all who knew him as an upstanding, thoughtful, and generous person with a great sense of humor. He would give kids rides and lunch money when they needed it. "Every one of those students he thought of as his own kid," said his wife Debra.

Gina Montalto, 14
Gina was a member of the school's state-champion marching band's winter guard. Her mother describes her as "a smart, loving, caring, and strong girl who brightened any room she entered."

Helena Ramsey, 17
Ramsey would have gone to college next year, a family member said. The relative remembered her as a "smart, kind hearted and thoughtful person. Though she was some what reserved, she had a relentless motivation towards her academic studies, and her soft warm demeanor brought the best out in all who knew her. She was so brilliant and witty, and I’m still wrestling with the idea that she is actually gone."

Jaime Guttenberg, 14
"My heart is broken," her father, Fred Guttenberg, wrote. "Yesterday, Jennifer Bloom Guttenberg and I lost our baby girl to a violent shooting at her school. We lost our daughter and my son Jesse Guttenberg lost his sister. I am broken as I write this trying to figure out how my family gets through this. Hugs to all and hold your children tight." Speaking at a candlelight vigil held Thursday night, Fred Guttenberg spoke of Jamie: "I sent her to school yesterday, and she was supposed to be safe. My job is to protect my children, and I sent my kid to school."

Joaquin Oliver, 17
Joaquin moved with his family to the U.S. from Venezuela when he was 3. He became a U.S. citizen last January. Friends say he played basketball in a city rec league and loved to write poetry.

Luke Hoyer, 15
Luke was a quiet but happy teenager who loved playing basketball. He was "an amazing individual. Always happy, always smiling. His smile was contagious, and so was his laugh," his cousin Grant Cox says. "I know Luke loved his family. He had a huge heart." His aunt Joan Cox says he was a "happy-go-lucky kid" and a "momma's boy" who rarely got into trouble. "He didn’t know what he wanted to do yet," Cox said. "He was just a freshman and was looking forward to high school."

Martin Duque Anguiano, 14
"Words can not describe my pain," his brother Miguel wrote. "I love brother Martin you'll be missed buddy. I know you're in a better place. Duques forever man I love you junior!!! R.I.P Martin Duque!"

Meadow Pollack, 18
Meadow was a senior who had been accepted to Lynn University. Spokeswoman Jamie D'Aria said: "Meadow was a lovely young woman, who was full of energy. We were very much looking forward to having her join our community in the fall."

Nick Dworet, 17
Senior. Dworet earned an academic scholarship at the University of Indianapolis and would have committed to the swim team in the fall. "Nick's death is a reminder that we are connected to the larger world, and when tragedy hits in places around the world, it oftentimes affects us at home," said Robert L. Manuel, University of Indianapolis President. Andre Bailey, head coach at Dworet's swim club, says: "I'm telling you from the bottom of my heart, he just took his life in his hands and he chiseled and molded his life."

Peter Wang, 15
Peter was killed while holding the door open for other students to flee before him out of study hall. His family, who speaks little English and struggled to receive news about their son, anticipated celebrating the Chinese New Year with him at their family restaurant.

Scott Beigel, 35
Geography Teacher and Cross Country Coach. Killed trying to let students in his classroom to hide from the gunman. Kelsey Friend, one of Beigel's students, says, "Mr. Beigel was my hero and he still will forever be my hero ... I am alive today because of him. If I could see him right now, I'd give him a huge teddy bear to say thank you. But, unfortunately, I can't do that."

On a personal note.
It finally hit home for me. This school is 10 minutes from my house. My community is in a state of shock and horror. These are the kids and families of my neighborhood, my grocery store, my movie theater, my parks.

Unless we act, one day it will be yours. I will be heartbroken to pass that torch.