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On Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., Brownsville residents gathered in Dean Porter Park at the Circle of Peace statue to join in spirit, those in Uvalde one week after the deadly mass shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School, just days before the end of the school year.
The children and their teachers were killed on May 24 after a gunman locked himself inside their classroom. This shooting is considered the deadliest school shooting in Texas’ history and the second deadliest in the nation.
Hosted by the Rotary Club of Brownsville Sunrise for District 5930, the moment of joined prayer comes as the funerals start this week in Uvalde for the victims.
USA Today reports that students Amerie Jo Garza, 10, and Maite Rodríguez, 10, will be the first laid to rest of the 21 victims, with their services taking place Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Rotary Club of Historic Brownsville, Rotary Club of North Brownsville, Brownsville Rotary Club and Satellite Club of Rancho Viejo were there to support the vigil.
The event featured short addresses to the crowd from the City of Brownsville, the Brownsville Police Department and the Rotary Club of Brownsville Sunrise. Following the reading of “Butterflies in the Breeze” there were 30 seconds of silence and then the name of each victim was read and the Rotary bell rung.
Rotary Club of Brownsville Sunrise President Anna Putegnat Garcia made the opening remarks for the vigil.
“We gather together to offer peace, love, support and solidarity and show the community of Uvalde that they are not alone. We see you, we hear you and we pray for you,” she said.
“We understand that mere words cannot heal wounded hearts or match the sorrow that you may feel, but we will stand and pray together for the families affected by the loss of their loved one,” she finished.
