How to mark anniversary of Aug. 3, 2019, El Paso Walmart shooting
Wednesday marks the third anniversary of the Aug. 3, 2019, mass shooting at an East Side Walmart that devastated, then united the community.
Throughout the week, Borderland residents will honor the victims.
Here is a listing of ways El Pasoans can pay tribute to those taken from us:
City of El Paso Memorial Bell and Blood drive
The city of El Paso will honor the victims with a Memorial Bell Toll Ceremony at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
As part of it, the City Council will have a moment of silence, followed by a reading of the names of each victim. Council members will take turns tolling a bell in remembrance of the 23 victims. The Consulate General of Mexico also will attend the ceremony. And Mariachi Alegre will perform music in tribute to the victims. The ceremony can be seen live on CITY-TV (Spectrum 1300, U-Verse 99, Regular TV Channel 13.4) and YouTube @cityofelpasotx.
City officials also will have a blood drive by Vitalant blood bank from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 300 N. Campbell St., in the breezeway on the first floor. Appointments need to be made.
City's healing meditation
Live Action El Paso will have a free Sound Bath with instruments of healing session at 7 p.m. Tuesday at San Jacinto Plaza, 114 W. Mills Ave.
El Paso Museum of History exhibit
The El Paso Museum of History will open its exhibit, "Resilience: Remembering Aug. 3," from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at 510 N. Santa Fe St. The exhibit features items left by the community in the days after the shooting. Luminarias will be placed around the exhibit.
Luminarias at Ponder Park
The public is invited to remember and grieve from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the temporary memorial site with luminarias at Ponder Park, 7500 W.H. Burges Drive. El Paso Pro-Musica will play. The Public Health Department will provide visitors with a tag to write a message of encouragement and hope on the temporary memorial. A large American flag will be displayed by the El Paso Fire Department.
Star on the Mountain to flash 23 times
The Star on the Mountain will flash 23 times, once for each victim, at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. It will be hosted by the El Paso Chamber.
Various landmarks and buildings ‒ including the public art sculpture on Interstate 10 and Airway Boulevard, the Blue Flame Building and Texas Department of Transportation highway lights and I-10 West arches ‒ also will be specially illuminated from Monday through Friday. The community is encouraged to light their front porches, yards and windows with candles, twinkle lights, luminarias or other lighting starting at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
El Paso United Family Resiliency Center event
The El Paso United Family Resiliency Center will commemorate three years since the Walmart shooting tragedy with its United Day of Remembrance, allowing guests to honor, reflect and celebrate the community’s resiliency.
The event will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday at Ascarate Park, 6900 Delta Drive. The community will have the opportunity to walk a luminaria-lit path through the park and reflect while local musicians play across three stages. Visitors also may visit the El Paso County Healing Garden that was created as a welcoming place to find comfort and healing. The public may enter the park through Ascarate Park’s main gate entrance, free of charge.
Blood Drive in honor of Aug. 3 victims
District Attorney Yvonne Rosales will host a blood drive in honor of the Walmart shooting victims and families from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday in the County Courthouse, third floor lobby.
To reserve your spot to donate, visit donors.vitalant.org. Courtesy of Vitalant, donors will receive a free T-shirt, goodie bag, and a chance to win one of two travel vouchers totaling $2,500 each.
Resolution presentation at Commissioners Court
County Commissioner Carl Robinson will present a resolution at 10 a.m. Monday during the county commissioners meeting on the third floor, Room 303, at the County Courthouse, 500 E. San Antonio Ave.
The resolution will be presented to the District Attorney Yvonne Rosales, victims and families.
More:State district judge issues gag order in El Paso Walmart mass shooting case
María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @EPTMaria on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: How to mark anniversary of Aug. 3, 2019, El Paso Walmart shooting
