Columbine Memorial

It was a gloomy, overcast day as the first people started arriving at Clement Park on Friday for the groundbreaking of the memorial to victims of the 1999 shootings at Columbine High School. Then the sun came out, and coats came off. About 2,000 people were gathered on the grass. Former President Clinton, who was on his second trip to help raise funds for the memorial, was to speak after Dawn Anna Beck, mother of slain student Lauren Townsend. But before Dawn Anna could finish, it was raining, thundering and there was even a bolt of lightning. When it was Clinton's turn, he quipped that he may not be running for political office, but he knew better than to talk to the crowd in the rain for too long. A planned 20-25 minute speech ended up being much shorter.

The area where the shovels went in the ground was actually blocked off from the public by temporary barriers. But Clinton walked over to the barriers to shake hands for quite a long time after the official ceremony, with security people holding an umbrella over his head. I heard one guy say something into his cell phone to the effect of, "I just had the greatest moment in my life, I shook Bill Clinton's hand!" He then gave a play by play into his phone as Clinton moved along the fence.

Some people shouted Four More Years!, which was shocking only cuz this has got to be one of the most Republican enclaves in metro Denver. One of the event planners allowed me to walk past the barrier to talk to Clinton, but one of the security folks said "Hi!" and pulled on my raincoat to hold me back. I don't think I could have taken the president. Later I caught up with him, where an awestruck crowd heard Clinton talk about how people could make small donations and still make a difference. (The memorial committee still needs to raise $250,000 to reach the $1.5 million goal for the memorial, even after Clinton pledged $50,000.) "People of modest means have enormous power if enough agree to do the same thing," Clinton said.

The memorial committee is selling pins for $13 to help raise money _ one dollar for each of the 12 students and the teacher who were killed. Nearly all the money goes toward the memorial, according to the families. There are also 300 limited edition pins that come with a sketch of the 13 victims. The families gave Clinton No. 42, because he was the 42nd president. How to donate