Lights Ignite Hope, Tears and an Amazing Video

Turning on the lights at stadiums and fields around Minnesota has taken off over the last two weeks with hundreds of communities taking the step to show a sign of hope for students who are taking their classes remotely. Spring sports are currently suspended and fields sit empty, which they would have anyway Monday due to Sunday's snow storm.

Area Activities Directors report reaction has been quite positive from students and community members. Owatonna's Marc Achterkirch looks at #BeTheLightMN movement as "a great way to show a beacon of hope through this pandemic."

NRHEG's Dan Stork says he's "received a lot of positive feedback from the players, coaches and community members," while turning on lights at the football field, softball diamond, and Jeff and Carol Reese Baseball Field. He added, "One softball player tweeted me saying she was crying."

Meford's Kevin Werk describes the idea as "a great way to honor the class of 2020. There is just something special about lights on a high school football field, whether you were a football player or just a fan in the stands."

Triton AD Shane VanBeek says he's "received positive feedback from the community. We know that these are trying times, and we want to do whatever we can for our students, especially our seniors."

The Cobras field is one of the locales featured in a video voiced by Minnesota Twins announcer Dick Bremer and getting plenty of attention on social media.

Blooming Prairie took the event an extra step last week. AD Ali Mach says, "I also invited the BP Fire Department to bring the ladder truck to the field and they raised their large American flag." Blooming Prairie fired up the lights on one of the first days of the movement. Mach said, "I asked our community to light their homes from 8:20 for 20 minutes and 20 seconds for our senior class. I was really excited to be a part of the BeTheLightMN campaign."