Dedication of memorial somber but soothing
Event includes tribute to late mayor, “healing” art
Survivors and family members of people killed six years ago in the Aurora theater shooting gathered Friday evening with first responders, city and court officials and the greater community to dedicate a new memorial and pay tribute to victims — those whose lives were lost as well as survivors.
The event also paid tribute to late Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan, who died May 13 at 69.
Also acknowledged Friday night was the new 7/20 Memorial Foundation sculpture Ascentiate, designed by Douwe Blumberg of Lexington, Ky. The avian-themed art piece pays tribute to 13 people who lost their lives and 70 who were inThe jured July 20, 2012.
“The (foundation) board is so pleased it turned out exactly the way we wanted it to turn out,” Heather Dearman, vice chairwoman of the foundation, said of the memorial art piece. “It has already brought so much healing and strength . ... It is only going to keep going.”
Dearman is a cousin of Ashley Moser, one of the 70 people injured in the attack.
The sculpture consists of 83 cranes, each 4K feet tall. Thirteen in the center are made of clear acrylic so light shines through, representing those who lost their lives. Each bird includes a canister containing tokens of remembrance from that victim’s family. The surrounding 70 birds, representing the injured, fly skyward.
gathering was at the Reflection Garden, where the memorial art piece is displayed, near the Aurora Municipal Center at East Alameda Parkway and Chambers Road. An earlier ceremony was held July 19.
Among those scheduled to speak Friday night: Tom and Caren Teves, parents of Alex Teves, who was killed; former Police Chief Dan Oates; retired Chief Mike Garcia; Carole O’Shea, victim services supervisor for the Aurora police; District Attorney George Brauchler; Lisa TeeschMaguire, formerly of the DA’s office and now a district court judge; Becky Hogan, the late mayor’s wife; Roberta Bloom, public art coordinator for Aurora; and Blumberg.