Walmart shooting memorial lights up night before dedication ceremony
Vic KolencThe memorial to the victims of the Aug. 3 El Paso Walmart mass shooting shined bright the night before being officially unveiled.
The El Paso Walmart memorial will be dedicated Saturday during a public ceremony. Here are several things to know about the memorial and about the dedication ceremony:
'Grand Candela' in small plaza
The "Grand Candela" has 22 individual perforated aluminum arcs grouped together into a single 30-foot candle, "symbolizing the community's unity and strength while emanating light into the sky," according to a Walmart statement.
The 22 arcs are in memory of the 22 people who were killed in the mass shooting. At least 25 others were injured.
The giant candle will be in a small plaza, enclosed with a decorative metal fence, and landscaped with trees and plants to provide "a place to remember, honor, and celebrate the lives of the victims and a place of respite and reconnection for the survivors," according to a Walmart statement.
More: City removes mass shooting memorial before Walmart reopening
Left mementos will be discarded
It's located on the south side of the Cielo Vista store's parking lot at 7101 Gateway West Blvd., in East El Paso.
After the Nov. 23 dedication, it will be open from 6 a.m. to midnight daily, the same operating hours as the Cielo Vista store, which reopened Nov. 14.
Walmart officials are asking people to not leave flowers, candles, mementos or other items at the memorial. Items left at the memorial will be discarded daily.
Speakers, other details of ceremony
The dedication ceremony begins at 7:30 a.m. and is expected to last about 30 minutes.
Walmart officials are asking people to not arrive before 6 a.m., when the Cielo Vista store opens. People attending the ceremony can park their cars in the parking lots at Walmart, or the next-door Sam's Club.
Shooting victims and family members of victims who were killed have been invited to the ceremony by officials at the El Paso County District Attorney's Office and One Fund El Paso, the shooting victims' fund. It's not known whether any will attend.
More: Inside the El Paso shooting: A store manager, a frantic father, grateful survivors
El Paso Mayor Dee Margo and Todd Peterson, the Walmart regional manager based in Phoenix, will speak at the ceremony and read the inscription on the memorial's plaque. A Catholic religious leader will conduct a blessing.
Twenty-two doves will be released into the sky to end the ceremony.
Vic Kolenc may be reached at 546-6421; vkolenc@elpasotimes.com; @vickolenc on Twitter.
FOLLOW the aftermath of El Paso's tragic day. Click here to subscribe.