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Garfield community comes together to remember 2 young lives lost in the Passaic River

A candlelight vigil is being held on Thursday to allow the community an opportunity to honor them in the place they called home.

Rebecca Eugene

Aug 6, 2026, 6:15 PM

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The community of Garfield is coming together to remember the lives of two 10-year-olds who lost their lives in the Passaic River.

A candlelight vigil is being held on Thursday to allow the community an opportunity to honor them in the place they called home.

This tragedy happened on July 29 when three children were swept from a boat ramp and into the water in Passaic.
One of the children was able to make it out due to the due to her brother, Michael Klenk’s final act of bravery. He pushed his 11-year-old sister to safety before he was pulled away by the strong current.

Their friend, Milian Dula Thompson, was also swept away, and both children later died.

Michael and Milian were both classmates at Garfield Public School No. 6.

This gathering will be a moment for family, friends, teachers, classmates and other community members a chance to mourn the two young lives lost.

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