April 20th 2024.
Stephen and Cheyenne Izaguirre, a couple from Austin, Texas, recently visited the Columbine Memorial. It is a somber and emotional place, located near Columbine High School. It has been twenty-five years since the tragic shooting that took the lives of 13 individuals, but the pain and impact of that day are still felt by the victims' families, the community of Colorado, and people around the world.
This Saturday marks the 25th anniversary of the shooting, which is considered one of the first major mass shootings in an American school. On April 20, 1999, two teenagers took the lives of 12 students and a teacher before taking their own lives. The devastating event changed the lives of those directly affected, as well as the larger issues surrounding gun violence in our country. Sadly, the actions of the two gunmen have inspired others to carry out similar attacks, and we still struggle to find a solution to prevent more school shootings.
For many of the families of the victims, the closest thing to finding peace and closure has been to spend time at the Columbine Memorial. The memorial has a Ring of Remembrance, where each loved one is honored with a special message engraved in stone. Among the victims is Rick Townsend's daughter, Lauren. Her father shared that the words inscribed on the ring serve as a reminder of what is truly important in life. He also mentioned that some of the messages seem to foreshadow the tragedy that was to come.
The Ring of Remembrance, along with a Wall of Healing featuring quotes from family members, students, teachers, and first responders, was opened in September 2007. Located just a short distance from the high school, the memorial has become a place of solace for the community, as they gather to remember and honor the victims. It took seven years to complete, and although there was criticism about the timeline, former Columbine High School Principal Frank DeAngelis expressed his satisfaction with the end result.
The memorial is a way to forever honor the 13 innocent lives that were taken that day: Lauren Townsend, Rachel Joy Scott, Daniel Rohrbough, Kyle Velasquez, Steven Curnow, Cassie Bernall, John Tomlin, Kelly Fleming, Daniel Mauser, Corey DePooter, Matt Kechter, Isaiah Shoels, and Dave Sanders. Unfortunately, after 17 years, the memorial has started to show signs of wear and tear. The words on the Ring of Remembrance and Wall of Healing have begun to fade due to exposure to the elements.
Rick Townsend, father of Lauren Townsend, shared his concerns about the fading words. He explained that over time, the freezing and thawing of the changing seasons, as well as exposure to sunlight, have caused some of the lettering to become difficult to read. The Columbine Memorial Foundation has been working to repair the damage, but they rely solely on private donations. In addition to preserving the words, they are also in need of a new lighting system. The current system is outdated and has issues with water seeping in, causing the lights to short out. The foundation is seeking donations to replace the ground lights with taller poles that will make it easier to read the tributes.
Townsend also shared that they have started an endowment fund to ensure the maintenance and preservation of the memorial for years to come. He pointed to the "Never Forgotten" ribbon at the center of the Ring of Remembrance, and expressed his hope that the fund will be able to sustain the memorial in the future. He also mentioned that they are in need of both financial donations and in-kind donations from contractors, in order to continue the upkeep of the memorial for at least another 25 years. The ribbon serves as a reminder that the victims will never be forgotten, and through the endowment fund, their memory will continue to be honored.
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