As four white balloons floated away on May 22, students and staff stood in silence in honor of those who were no longer by their side.

Peter Hobart Elementary and community members remembered the two fourth grade students who died as well as the two who were injured in a landslide during a field trip to Lilydale Park in St. Paul last year. Devin Meldahl and Lucas Lee suffered injuries, while Mohamed Fofana and Haysem Sani lost their lives.

Superintendent Rob Metz and other officials released the four white balloons into the sky as a way of honoring the victims involved in the tragedy. Peter Hobart students and staff formed a human chain around the school to show support and solidarity for one another. According to Paul Godlewski, an attorney representing the Fofana and Sani families, the ceremony was an emotional one that struck a chord with the victims’ families.

“Emotionally, it was very good for them,” Godlewski said. “In a way they felt reconciled with the school and students, and now can possibly start to look forward.”

Metz also said he was very pleased with the results of the ceremony for all parties.

“It was meaningful for the whole community to show up and provide support,” Metz said. “But it was also a good celebration of the lives lost.”

In addition to the ceremony, the Fofana and Sani families announced they will donate a portion of the settlement awards to others in need in their home countries in Africa. In March, the City of St. Paul settled with the families for a sum of money totaling $1 million, while earlier this month the Hennepin District Court approved a settlement with the St. Louis Park School District of $200,000.

Fofana’s family will be allocating a significant amount of their money to build a school in his home country of Guinea and Sani’s family will donate much of theirs to a orphanage in their native Ethiopia.

“They felt compelled (to donate), that it was the right thing to do in the memory of the children,” Godlewski. said. “Coming from poor countries they know their roots and intend to go back some day.”

Godlewski also said Sani’s family remembered when Haysem visited Ethiopia in 2009 he vowed to return and help the impoverished people after attending Harvard University.

Those who wish to be of assistance to the funds of Fofana and Sani can contribute through donations of clothing and books being collected at Peter Hobart.