MINNEAPOLIS -- August 2 marks one year since the deadly explosion at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis.
The natural gas explosion destroyed part of the Upper School and killed secretary Ruth Berg and custodian John Carlson.
Thursday morning, those connected to Minnehaha Academy returned to the campus to reflect on the past year and celebrate the campus rebuild.
"The building was fragile... your community is not," said Betsy Hodges, who was mayor of Minneapolis at the time of the explosion.
Minnehaha Academy President Dr. Donna Harris said, "Tragedy still is very present, loss is very present, but it is just amazing to be at this point and have such a strong community of support and care."
Minneapolis Police Officers Greg Kosch and Dean Milner attended the ceremony. They were the first squad on scene last year.
"I think we're just very honored that they continue to ask us to come back for these events and that they consider us a part of their family. It's a little humbling. I'm honored," Officer Milner said.
The event closed with a Pillar Raising ceremony at the construction site. A banner read, "Together We Rise."
Rebecca Skweres was going into her freshman year at Minnehaha Academy when the explosion happened. She will be a junior when the high school students return to the campus at 3100 West River Parkway.
"The community is all around phenomenal and the people I met here have been great. You just get a sense of like a small family kind of," Skweres said.
High school students will be back at the Minneapolis campus in the fall of 2019.
You can check out a virtual tour of the 3100 campus design, here.