Three Parkland School Staff Members Remembered as Heroes After Tragedy

Three Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School staff members – Aaron Feis, Chris Hixon and Scott Beigel – are being remembered for giving up their own lives while trying to save the lives of students.

When the Parkland shooting rampage began, coach Aaron Feis moved toward the danger – spending his last living moments protecting students.

Feis – a father, husband and friend – is being recalled as a hero. A viewing for the assistant football coach was held at the Church of the Glades in Coral Springs on Tuesday.

Willis May, the head football coach at the school, said Feis pushed a student away from danger and jumped in between the student and the gunman.

"Everybody talks about how he’s a hero — he was a hero every day,"

Feis' funeral service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Church by the Glades.

Chris Hixon, the school's athletic director and wrestling coach, is also being hailed as a hero because he steadfastly stood between students and oncoming bullets.

A viewing for Hixon was held at the Landmark Funeral Home in Hollywood on Tuesday. His funeral will be held Wednesday morning at Nativity Catholic Church, where the U.S. veteran who served in the Gulf War will receive a full military burial.

“Their families lost their loved ones. Both of them have kids, they’re great dads – it’s just sad. God, how sad," May said.

The Parkland school tragedy forced a community to unite. That reality was again exemplified on Tuesday when the "Run 4 Beigel" was held.

Geography teacher and cross country coach Scott Beigel began working at the school less than six months ago. In his memory, students helped organize a walk-and-run event.

"He was an amazing guy," student Alyssa Fletcher said.

Survivors said Beigel was fatally shot while also helping students.

"I heard two shots. I didn't see it, but then those two shots would have been my friend Scott Beigel getting shot and killed while trying to save his kids," fellow teacher Ernest Rospierski told The Associated Press.

Beigel was laid to rest on Sunday.

"If the shooter would have come into the room, I probably wouldn't be speaking to you now," student Kelsey Friend told Good Morning America.

Beigel "unlocked the door and let us in," she said. "I thought he was behind me, but he wasn't. When he opened the door he had to relock it so we could stay safe, but he didn't get a chance to."

Student Bruna Oliveda said she saw Beigel blocking the door.

"I don't know how we're alive," she said.

Beigel's mother was at the "Run 4 Beigel" event.

"I was just so happy that had gotten [through to] his students. That was the most important thing to him that he got through to his students and that he made a difference in their lives," his mother said.