Remembering Lauren Nicole Knogge

Quicker than the ink on her VMHS diploma could dry, Lauren Knogge took off to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina for an extended summer vacation.  Along with her best friend Aubree, sisters, Anneliese and Katharine, Lauren and her parents enjoyed days on the beach, floating with dolphins, playing in the pool and taking bike rides through the sea pine forest.  College was only weeks away and Lauren was living and loving every minute of vacation.

On Wednesday, June 24, during her second week of 'kicking it' on the beautiful island of Hilton Head, Lauren began to feel tired. She suffered a heart attack which resulted in an airlifted transport to a hospital in Savannah, GA. Amy, Lauren's older sister flew in from Texas to join the rest of the Knogges. In the early morning of June 26, Lauren died, surrounded by her family.  

Members of the "Golden Alliance Band Family" were shocked and deeply saddened to hear the news of Lauren's untimely death.  We ask "Why?" We cry on each other's shoulders. We recall the good times we shared with Lauren:  Band trips to San Francisco, Flagstaff, and countless Southern California field show competitions; The Big Trip: Bands of America Grand Nationals 2008 in Indianapolis, IN; SPAs '05, '06, '07, '08; the Disneyland parades; second semester concerts, recycling days, numerous car washes, and of course, countless hours of rolling the PIT from the band room to the stadium and back again. 

Lauren Knogge may have been slight in her physical stature, but she has already left a huge void in the hearts of the hundreds of people who knew her. 

Lauren cared very much for her friends and family, as well as the many children of the world. Strong in her Christian faith, she supported ministries by sending allowance money that helped provide relief for children ravaged by civil wars in Africa.  Lauren and her family also helped support a family friend who started an orphanage in Cambodia.