LINK: Check out the blog written by Jared's family
CENTERVILLE -- Superman, Batman and G.I. Joe went to Taylor Elementary School on Friday in honor of Jared Vance, but the second-grader wasn't there.
The Superman fan died this week as his classmates were planning a big day in his honor. Instead of seeing the superheroes he adored, Jared was buried Friday.
Taylor students dressed as superheroes to participate in Hero Day, a tribute to their beloved classmate, but the rare cancer took him sooner than anyone expected.
"We have been planning this day with Jared for a long time and hoped he would have been involved today, but coincidentally, Hero Day fell on the day of his funeral," said Principal Vicki Corwin. "Instead of canceling, we decided to go ahead and hold it in his honor."
Jared was diagnosed in May with a chordoma tumor, a rare form of bone cancer usually occurring in the spine and base of the skull, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
Jared's parents, Jaime and Andrew Vance, kept a blog that allowed people to follow their son's progress.
"The tumor was very aggressive," said sixth-grade teacher Cathy Tonge, who taught Jared last year in the first grade. "After they operated, it came back very fast."
When news of Jared's illness began to surface, Tonge asked her students to find a way to commemorate his life.
Jared wanted to be a superhero and help people in need, so the class decided to start several service projects.
"We took a tree to his home, and each of the students decorated it with ornaments," Tonge said. "On each ornament, they wrote down how they were going to be of service to others."
The class also decided to involve the entire school, and the idea of Hero Day was accepted.
On Friday, students started collecting mittens, socks, gloves, food and other items. They also collected money for the Jared Vance Foundation, set up by his family at America First Credit Union.
"Jared was quiet and unassuming," Tonge said. "All of the girls loved him. They were all in awe of him, and all of the boys wanted to play with him at recess."
Taylor Jones, a sixth-grader who helped plan Hero Day, was in Jared's Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ward. He said he remembers Jared's kindness.
"He was sweet and generous, and he was pretty funny, too," Taylor said.
"I was really sad and upset when I found out about the pain he was going through. I wanted to help do something that would honor him and remember him. It makes me feel good and happy."
McKenna Morris, also a sixth-grader, said she didn't know Jared but she immediately wanted to participate in Hero Day when she heard about his condition.
"They showed us a video of his Make-A-Wish day, and it made me tear up," she said.
"I just felt like I really wanted to do something, and it makes me feel happy to be able to help. We are collecting toys for the kids at the state hospital so they'll feel better."
Jared's second-grade teacher, Barbara Roy, said Jared was one of the sweetest students she has taught in a long time.
"He was loved by everyone, and even though he was just in second grade, he had a great influence on the other kids," she said.
"We have talked a lot this week about Jared and the special gifts he has left us with."
On Jared's blog, the family expressed their appreciation to the school.
"We feel so touched as Jared's elementary school is honoring Jared the week after Thanksgiving as they hold a schoolwide 'Jared Vance -- Hero Day' in honor of Jared and his superhero status," the blog said.
"Jared was much more than a superhero to us. Jared has paved our way of hope to a loving God, and we will be eternally grateful for his special presence in our lives."
Donations can be made to a charitable fund account at any America First Credit Union under the name Jared Rushton Vance.
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