Texas community holds vigils, memorials 1 year after mass school shooting killed 21

By Darren Lyn

HOUSTON, US (AA) - Multiple vigils and memorials were held across the small community of Uvalde on Wednesday to remember the 19 students and two teachers who were murdered one year ago during the massacre at Robb Elementary School in the US state of Texas.

“For us, and I think it may be felt across the community, it is a somber day,” said Julian Moreno, the great-grandfather of 10-year-old Alexandria “Lexi” Rubio, one of the fourth graders killed during the mass shooting on May 24, 2022.

Moreno told the Texas Tribune newspaper that as much as he is saddened by what happened to Lexi, it is still important to celebrate the memories of the victims on this tragic anniversary, which is “at the same time a day that brings to mind the impact of the lives of these children, (including) our great-granddaughter, who left recorded in our hearts all these beautiful moments we shared with her,” said Moreno.

One of the memorial sites was a pond encircled by 21 crosses to represent each of the victims, where visitors stopped to say silent prayers.

At one of the local churches, a vigil was held to release butterflies in memory of the students and teachers who lost their lives.

There were many makeshift memorial sites scattered throughout this small city of 15,000 with visitors leaving flowers, photos and other mementos to commemorate the victims.

“It’s been a year, and we choose to be out here today to continue our support for them and to continue the memory of the children and lives that were taken away," Anthony Medrano from San Antonio told the Tribune.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered flags lowered to half-staff across the state and urged residents to observe a moment of silence for the victims at 11.30 a.m. local time, which was when the shooting took place a year ago.

That moment of silence was used by Democratic Rep. Tracy King, who represents Uvalde, to press the Texas legislature to pass a bill that would raise the age of buying a semi-automatic rifle from 18 to 21. The gunman who carried out the massacre was 18 and used an AR-15 style rifle.

“Eight days after his 18th birthday, a killer walked into Robb Elementary and fired around 150 rounds, shot 38 people, killed 19 fourth-graders and two teachers. It took him about three minutes,” King said to a silent House floor.

The one-year mark comes just a week before the end of the state legislative session, which is set to recess without passage of that key provision to raise the minimum age to purchase a semi-automatic rifle.

President Joe Biden also marked the one-year anniversary of the Uvalde mass shooting by urging Congress to pass a bipartisan bill that would enact stricter gun control legislation, including banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines.​​​​​​​

“It’s time to act. It’s time to make our voices heard. Not as Democrats or Republicans. But as friends, neighbors, parents and as fellow Americans,” Biden said at a White House news conference. “How many more parents will live their worst nightmare before we stand up to the gun lobby?”