Parents of Paige Merical hold flag-raising ceremony to honor life

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- The parents of Paige Merical, a Wake Forest High School student who got caught in a rip current while swimming in Emerald Isle while on spring break, held a ceremony on Friday to honor their daughter's life.

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John and Suzi Merical held the flag-raising ceremony at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville.

"You know you've done something right when your child has good friends and they truly, truly miss her and they're upset that they lost her. She meant a great deal to them. She was the ultimate alpha female," said John Merical, Paige's dad.

Many of Paige's friends attended the memorial service. Some of those friends had also been to the hospital to visit her earlier in the week.

Paige remains on life support at the hospital.

Her family says she "will not survive," but will help save others' lives through an organ donation.

"If I could say one thing to people, I'd say seriously consider being an organ donor. It's a wonderful thing," said John.