Las Vegas officials have committed to unveiling a permanent memorial in remembrance of the victims of the 2017 mass shooting on the Strip by the 10th anniversary of the tragic attack. The announcement was made on the eve of the seventh anniversary of the shooting that claimed the lives of 58 individuals and left hundreds more injured during a country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip. Over the years, two more individuals succumbed to their gunshot wounds, further adding to the toll of the tragic incident.
Jan Jones-Blackhurst, who chairs the Vegas Strong Fund responsible for fundraising and constructing the memorial, stated at a news conference that the group intends to commence construction at the site of the attack within the next six months. Following three years of planning setbacks due to the pandemic, a final design for the memorial has been approved, featuring 58 candle-like beams. The envisioned park will be shaped like an infinity symbol in the northeastern corner of the former concert venue, adorned with 22,000 lights symbolising the attendees of the ill-fated show. Visitors will be led through a garden and past a 58-foot glass tower to a “remembrance ring” encircled by the 58 candles, each bearing the name and photo of a victim.
Brian Rogers, a paramedic who responded to the shooting and now serves on the board of the Vegas Strong Fund, conveyed, “For our victims, families, our survivors, we know that you long for a space to lie down, to grieve, to pay respects to those you’ve lost, and to gather in community and remember the good parts of the times you shared together.” An alternative design under consideration comprises 15 horse statues honouring the home states and countries of the deceased, with two additional smaller horses representing the children who lost parents in the tragedy.
The construction of the memorial is anticipated to incur costs amounting to tens of millions of dollars, with Clark County contributing $1 million towards the project. Notably, the permanent memorial will stand distinct from a community healing garden established in downtown Las Vegas by over 1,000 volunteers shortly after the shooting occurred.