The Lancers blue was replaced with bright red Friday evening as Belleville East students gathered on the school’s central terrace to release balloons in honor of their 15-year-old classmate, Jarod Rhodes, who died unexpectedly last week.
Red was Jarod’s favorite color.
Kaleah Harrel and Hernandez Brown, both sophomores at East, organized Friday’s event with the permission of Jarod’s family. In brief speeches, they remembered Jarod’s musical theater talent, bright smile and joyful demeanor.
“That’s one thing he never failed to do — make everyone laugh,” Harrel said. “If you were ever having a bad day and Jarod came around, your day would get ten times better.”…