The January 8th Memorial is not only representative of how our community came together to grieve and to comfort those swept up in the 2011 shooting, it is a testament of how we continue to work together to make our community stronger.
This will be a place where generations will come to learn about how civil discourse pulls us together despite our differences. They will understand the power of a community to create a healthy space for families to flourish.
The memorial represents thousands of hours of volunteer time and the financial contributions of many. Because of this outpouring of support at all levels, there is now federal legislation pending to make our memorial a National Memorial and become an affiliate of the National Park Service.
That handful of seconds of terrifying violence which happened seven years ago could have driven a divisive wedge in our community; instead it has made us grow closer together, stronger and more compassionate.
Tucson Medical Center is proud to join with hundreds of others in our community to support the development and construction of the memorial, which will begin following the site dedication. While the construction fundraising phase is complete, there is still time for each of us to make a donation at www.tucsonsmemorial.org or by calling 393-8317. These funds will be used for the memorial’s operation and maintenance.
Private funds already have been raised to pay for archiving items left at impromptu memorials established in the days after the shooting. Money also has been raised to pay for professionally recorded oral histories from first responders, survivors, medical staff and others connected to this pivotal moment in our community’s history.
I am honored to be a part of this community and what the memorial will represent. We remember what we lost that day and celebrate the response of the hundreds — if not thousands — who reassured us by their actions that there is great good in our community, continuing to inspire us and to always focus on the strength found in kindness to all.
We cannot and must not forget what happened that Saturday morning, Jan. 8, 2011, and the way our community persevered to recover.
When complete, the memorial will be a focal point for gatherings, a place for out-of-town visitors to learn about our community’s strength and generosity and a place for those to remember. It will be a lovely place of public art for generations of Tucsonans to come and remember.
I hope you will join me at the site of Tucson’s January 8th Memorial for a blessing and dedication at 9:30 a.m., Monday, Jan. 8 at El Presidio Park in front of the historic Pima County Courthouse.
