Centennial – Glimpses of Joshua Land-Bankett’s short life flashed on two wall-mounted video screens during a celebration memorial service at Eastern Hills Community Church.The gregarious, 17-year-old Smoky Hill High School senior was one of two teens who died Dec. 27 after the car they were riding in collided with two other vehicles. The other victim was Ian Wallace, 17.
The driver of their car, 16-year-old Michael Stillwagon, and 17-year-old Alton Coward survived the crash.
“He was always smiling and I had never seen him mad,” said LePries Brooks, 16 a former classmate at Smoky Hill. Brooks recalled how Joshua had been the first to welcome him when he enrolled at the school. Brooks now attends Gateway High School in Aurora.
Lying in a gold, flower-adorned coffin, Joshua, who was a few months shy of graduation, wore a green graduation cap and gown.
Friends, students and teachers slowly walked past and wept before services started.
An estimated 900 mourners filled four overflow rooms at the church. They watched video images of Joshua parasailing, scaling a climbing wall, singing, and sharing moments with family and friends. The images were synchronized to songs such as “I Believe I Can Fly” by artist R. Kelly and “I’ll be Missing You” sung by Faith Evans and the group 112.
Joshua’s parents, Del and Velma Land-Bankett had to be helped by others to their seats and their cries for their son caused many mourners to weep.
“You did a great job,” said Pastor Sean Matthews to the grieving parents. “You raised an amazing boy.”
Bible scriptures were read, gospel songs were sung and tributes flowed from Joshua’s family, his siblings and and friends who recalled a young man who loved to draw cartoons, enjoyed playing football and basketball, and going to the movies and dancing.
“I didn’t know Joshua was this loved,” his mother Velma said during the service attended the service.
“This is Joshua’s day.”
