HOUSTON – Emotions ran high at a memorial service held Monday night at the Church of St. John The Divine in River Oaks, where hundreds gathered to honor the Camp Mystic girls impacted by the devastating floods in Central Texas.
Camp Mystic campers said they are united by song — a tradition they carry throughout their time at camp. Even during the chaotic evacuation after the flood, many rescued campers sang together on a bus, using music to calm and support one another.
Now, song is how they are remembering the girls who tragically lost their lives or remain missing.
“Mystic made me who I am,” said Lauren McGrew -Hitzhusen, a former camper and counselor.
“I really love the camp. It’s my home away from home,” shared Madeline Vacher, another camper. She added that many of the girls lost were sisters of her cabin mates.
The flood destroyed the campgrounds, including the cabin where 8-year-old Stella Gulledge once stayed.
“I’m really sad about what happened at Camp Mystic, and I wish it never happened,” Stella said.
Inside the packed sanctuary, families prayed for the girls and others whose lives were forever changed by the floods. Many wore white and wrapped trees in green ribbons as symbols of the camp’s sisterhood.
Vacher shared how she wants the girls to be remembered, “by keeping them in your thoughts and prayers, making sure they’re not forgotten, and everyone’s remembered.”
Kerr County officials said the floods claimed the lives of 27 campers and a counselor. Ten campers and one counselor remain unaccounted for.
Despite the tragedy, campers remain committed to honoring their sisters and the spirit of Camp Mystic through song and community.
“We sing all the time — at breakfast, lunch, silly songs — it’s part of who we are,” Lauren said. “Mystic made me who I am.”
For these campers, music is more than just a tradition — it’s a way to heal, remember, and stay connected.