Colby Hall was just 17 years old when he was killed in a car crash in October 2021. His parents, Don and Melanie Hall of Elizabethtown, are organizing the Colby Hall Memorial Lacrosse Day in their son's honor. It will be held on Saturday, May 14, beginning at 9 a.m. at the turf field at Elizabethtown Area High School (EAHS), 600 E. High St.

A senior at EAHS, Colby was a member of the boys' lacrosse team. "He loved lacrosse," Melanie said. "It was his passion. He played since third grade, and he made a lot of friends through the sport."

The Halls are hoping the pain of losing their son can be turned into a way to help others. The lacrosse day will be a fundraiser for a scholarship they started in Colby's memory. "The scholarship will be given annually to a senior member of the boys' or girls' lacrosse team at EAHS," Melanie noted.

She invites members of the community to come to the lacrosse day, which will include four games featuring the U12 and U14 teams as well as the boys' and girls' high school lacrosse teams. Hosted by the Rheems Athletic Association, the lacrosse day will be funded by a variety of community sponsors. Sponsors are Donegal Springs Airpark, Albright & Thiry Orthodontics, White Family Dental, Tyson Fence Company, Elizabethtown Family Chiropractic, Garden State Tile, Century Home Improvements, Agency 1 and R.G. Hummer Meat and Cheese. "These are all places that have a personal connection to Colby," Melanie explained, noting that she was overwhelmed by the support of the community in organizing the day. "People have been very helpful and very thoughtful as we've been getting everything together. We've been surprised by how many people want to help."

Along with the lacrosse games, a concession stand will have snacks for sale and the event will include a 50/50 giveaway as well as an auction featuring eight Hersheypark tickets. "Colby worked as a lifeguard at Hersheypark last summer and then was employed as a lifeguard at the Hershey Lodge," Melanie noted, adding that The Hershey Company donated the tickets.

Colby attended the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center in Mount Joy and was in the welding program. Along with playing lacrosse for EAHS, he played with the Lebanon Valley Lacrosse Club.

"There used to be a lacrosse day years ago in Elizabethtown," Melanie noted, adding that before Colby died, the Halls talked about bringing it back. "After Colby's accident, we decided we had to do it. We wanted something to keep his memory alive, and we wanted to help somebody else by providing a scholarship to a lacrosse player."

She also hopes the day will spark interest in the sport her son loved. "It's a good way for kids to come and see what lacrosse is all about," she stated. "It's a sport that's still growing in popularity in this area, and this is a way to possibly generate some interest among the younger kids."