AURORA, COLO, July 23: Thousands of Denver-area residents made a sunset pilgrimage to a sprawling park yesterday to honor the 12 who died and the scores more wounded when a gunman opened fire early Friday in a crowded midnight movie.
As darkness fell over Aurora, the red neon glow of the Century 16 movie complex where the tragedy took place grew visible in the distance, an anguished reminder of the mass shooting that has overwhelmed this blue-collar city of 325,000.
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper solemnly read the names of the 12 victims aloud as the crowd repeated “we will remember” after each name. As he spoke, red heart-shaped balloons drifted up into the sky from among the sea of people.
Hickenlooper shared the story of a 25-year-old woman named Heather, who was at the midnight premiere of the latest Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises,” as part of a 37-member group of employees from national food chain Red Robin.
Shot by all three weapons that alleged shooter James Holmes used in his attack, Hickenlooper related that, when he visited her in the hospital, Heather was proudly displaying a large Batman pillow behind her hospital bed.
Indeed, many attendees wore Batman shirts and Batman hats, some handmade with “7/20/12,” the date of the horrific shooting.
That sprit of defiance was also reflected in the refusal, by everyone from President Barack Obama on down, to utter the name of the alleged killer.
“The pain is still raw,” Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan said. “The healing has yet to begin.”
In the middle of a sea of people spread across the lawn in front of the Aurora Municipal Center, a bright eye-catching burst of pink stood out: two-dozen friends of victim Micayla Medek were clad in bright shades of pink, her favorite color. Hot pink, deep pink, soft pink and off pink.
The popular 23-year-old was working at a local sandwich shop and saving up for a trip to India. She had gone with six other friends to see the movie. They all survived but she was killed.
“Pink is the embodiment of who she was – pure love. She was always happy, and she worked her way into everybody’s heart,” said Henry Miranda, 23, who was sitting with “Cayla” when she was shot. He declined to discuss the horror of that night.
“Today is not about ‘why?’” Miranda said. “It’s about celebrating the love she brought into all of our lives.”
When Micayla Medek’s name was read aloud, some in the pink-clad group of her friends began to weep, linking arms and leaning on one another for support. Their pink balloons soon joined the hearts that were drifting slowly into the clouds.
(agencies)
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