Nickel Mines: Tragedy and Forgiveness

A few miles south of here, in the quiet village of Nickel Mines, lies the memory of one of the darkest days in Amish history, and one of the most extraordinary responses to tragedy that America has ever witnessed. On October second of two thousand six, a gunman entered the West Nickel Mines School, a one room Amish schoolhouse, and took the children hostage. He shot ten girls before taking his own life.

Five died that day, and a sixth died of her injuries many years later. The victims ranged from six to thirteen years old. The gunman was a local milk truck driver, not Amish himself, who served farms in the area.

What stunned the watching world was not only the horror, but what the Amish did next. Within hours, Amish neighbors reached out to the killer's widow and family with forgiveness. Members of the community attended the gunman's burial, and parents who had buried their own daughters embraced his relatives.

They also gave to a fund supporting his family. Their forgiveness did not erase the grief, which the families carry still, and it was never meant to excuse the crime. It grew from a conviction, rooted deep in their faith, to let go of vengeance.

The old schoolhouse was torn down, and a new one, called the New Hope School, was built nearby. The story remains a profound lesson in grace.