Chelsea King Memorial at Poway High School Stadium March 13

by Amy Judd | March 13, 2010 at 03:13 pm

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Thousands of Mourners Attended a Memorial for Chelsea King on Saturday March 13

Chelsea King: A Celebration of Her Life and Light

Poway High School Stadium was filled today as students, friends and family mourned the death of 17-year-old Chelsea King, whose body was discovered in a shallow grave near Lake Hodges 11 days ago.

Students wrapped ribbons around sunflowers to give out to mourners as they arrived at the service, and one of Chelsea's friends spoke to the Associated Press before the service started:

"A lot of people are getting ready to bring closure to it," said Evan Shirley, 17, a friend of Chelsea's. "I hope to see everyone come out to support the family and honor their friend in whatever way they see fit."

Chelsea King's parents spoke at the memorial service, along with her uncle and her younger brother Tyler.

The Poway High School band and the San Diego Youth Symphony, in which Chelsea played the french horn, performed in tribute to the slain teenager. The ROTC Color Guard from Westview High School also performed.

Chelsea King: A Life Cut Too Short

Chelsea King was last seen on February 25 when she was jogging in Rancho Bernardo Park in San Diego. Her body was found 11 days later and John Albert Gardner III was arrested three days after she went missing.

Gardner pleaded not guilty to the rape and murder of Chelsea King on March 3.

Saturday was not about Gardner however, but about Chelsea and the life that could have been and was cut tragically short too soon.