More than 60 students, friends and neighbors came to pay tribute to Solomon King at Thomas Wootton High School on Sunday, Nov. 13, exactly a year after he was struck and killed by a car while walking along Piney Meetinghouse Road.
Mieko King, Solomon’s mother, thanked those who came to pay tribute. “Such a short life,” she said. “He was loved by so many people.”
Each person laid a rose by a picture of Solomon in a garden by Wootton’s front entrance. Each lit a candle in remembrance, and many placed their candles amid the roses until Solomon’s picture was illuminated in the candlelight. Several people spoke, but most in attendance kept silent vigil, or signed a posterboard with a picture of Solomon
“We don’t have to worry about this crowd forgetting Solomon,” said Connie Inukai, a family friend who attended the event. “I think as a tribute to Solomon, we should all learn social responsibility. … Take care of yourself so nobody else’s family will have to go through what Solomon’s family is going through.”
“The fact that all you are here shows that he touched your lives in a special way,” said Jim Fininzio, who attended the vigil.
Next Saturday, five bands representing three different area high schools will perform at Wootton to raise funds for a scholarship named after Solomon, who loved art. The scholarship will be awarded to an art student at Wootton.
THE DRIVER who hit and killed Solomon remains at large.
Inukai emphasized how important it is for drivers to remain on the scene after an accident. The driver may be in a position to help somebody injured on the scene, she said.
“I cannot believe what the driver is going through, … the havoc they have cause,” Inukai said.
Anyone with information about this collision or the driver involved is asked to call the Montgomery County Police Collision Reconstruction Section at 301-840-2435. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 1-800-673-2777.