©2009 Kia Scherr (left) speaks to graduates, parents, and faculty at Tuesday's graduation. Kia's daughter, Naomi, was a former student at North Branch prior to her death in the Mumbai attacks during the 2008 Thanksgiving holiday.

Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
It was a night of celebration, remembrance, good byes, and tears as some of the students at North Branch School in Afton graduated from the place they have called home during the past 8 years. One of the most touching parts of the evening happened when Kia Scherr took a few minutes to thank everyone at North Branch for the wonderful experience her daughter Naomi had when she was a student there. 13 year old Naomi and her dad Alan were tragically killed over the Thanksgiving holiday in 2008 in the Mumbai attacks. “Her years at NBS were some of the best,” Ms. Scherr told the crowd Tuesday night. A special memorial scholarship has been setup in Naomi’s name.

Graduating students put on a musical presentation in their final day as students at NBS.

“The students Tuesday night were graduating from 8th grade and going on to various area high school programs,” says Bonnie Holliday, Development Director at North Branch.

As a way of saying thanks. The faculty at North Branch were presented with hand made custom pens. Two former students of NBS, Mack Pearce and Chris Wygand, made the pens from an ash tree that once stood tall on the school property.

Future graduates of North Branch put on a musical presentation about geography at the graduation.

Congrats to all of the graduates at North Branch! Have a fun and safe summer!

North Branch School on the web at: http://www.north-branch-school.org/

Photos By Tommy Stafford : ©2008 NCL : Kia Scherr (left seated) and Master Charles Cannon listen as Dr. Phil Duncan (far left) reflects on Alan & Naomi

Faber – Nelson County, Virginia
Sunday was a melancholy day of remembrance and celebration of Alan Scherr and his 13 year old daughter Naomi who were gunned down in a terrorist attack a few weeks ago in the Mumbai, India attacks. NCL first broke the story internationally of the Virginia father and daughter’s possible death in these series of reports over the Thanksgiving holiday.

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The program cover from Sunday's memorial.

This past weekend’s gathering at Synchronicity was a time to remember the two and preserve and honor their memory.

People pack the sanctuary at Synchronicity Foundation in Faber, Virginia

Camera crews from Richmond enter the sanctuary at Synchronicity for Sunday's memorial.

Master Charles Cannon and Kia Scherr pause for a moment before entering Sunday's memorial honoring her daughter and husband.

Alan Scherr's brother, Marc Scherr, speaks to the crowd.

Synchronicity on the web at www.synchronicity.org

Photos By Tommy Stafford ©2008 NCL : Master Charles Cannon and Kia Scherr take a seat at Synchronicity to address the national media.

Faber – Nelson County, Virginia

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mc-kia-presser

Master Charles Cannon, head of Synchronicity Foundation and Kia Scherr, the wife of Alan Scherr and mother of Naomi Scherr spoke to the national press Tuesday afternoon at Synchronicity’s cathedral. NCL first broke the story of the Nelson County ties in our series of reports during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Kia’s husband and 13 year old daughter were both gunned down in the terrorist’s attacks in Mumbai last week.

Cannon describes how he had to walk out of the Oberoi Hotel over dead victims in the attacks. The Scherr father and daughter were two of the deceased Cannon identified on his way out.

The pair spent the better part of an hour telling their stories to live national media. Portions of the interviews were picked up on CNN.

A huge presence of both local and national media attended Tuesday's press conference at Synchronicity.

Cannon carefully describes his nearly two days of being barricaded in is hotel room in India while terrorists killed over 100 people in the attacks.

Cannon speaks to Courtney Stuart with The Hook in Charlottesville after Tuesday's press conference.

There will be a memorial service held for Alan Scherr and his daughter Naomi in a few days. We’ll have more details as they become available.