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Remember 1/8/11

by on Jan. 08, 2012, under Life, Politics

Remember January 8, 2011.

Remember the first moment you heard/read online that CD 8 Congresswoman “Gabby” Giffords had been shot in the head (credit to blogger “3 Sonorans” for his fast blog here at Tucsoncitizen.com, minutes after the shooting).

Remember when you realized that 19 persons including a 9 year old child had been shot & injured at that Safeway in NW Tucson.

Remember the pain when you realized that you personally knew someone who died (for me, Gabe Zimmerman, Gabby’s community outreach aide). Remember the grief thereafter for such a senseless killing.

Remember anxiously waitng for news from UMC of the condition of the injured.

Remember going to that Safeway to pay your respects to the six fallen on the sidewalk.

Remember going to the UMC memorial to light candles, and to the Congresswoman’s office to place flowers, pray for healing and peace of mind.

Remember President Barack Obama’s speech on January 12, 2011 at McKale Center, in which he stated:
“I believe that for all our imperfections, we are full of decency and goodness, and that the forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us”.

We all remember January 8, 2011 and the first responders, Surgeon Dr. Peter Rhee at the UMC Trauma Unit, the outpouring of love and support for the families of the murdered and the injured.

Today, as we reflect on the events of that day a year ago, here is a list of some events to attend, to collectively continue the healing:

7 a.m.

Ben’s Bells Distribution – Hundreds of Ben’s Bells will be randomly distributed throughout Tucson in memory of those we lost and in gratitude for our beautifully supportive community. Contact: Phone:520-628-2829

10 a.m .- 5 p.m.

A Day of Kindness at the Children’s Museum — Tucson Ben’s Bells invites families to gather to sign the Kindness Contract, to paint Kindness Coins and to hang Kindness Wishes in the trees at the Museum. Contact: Children’s Museum Tucson, 520-792-9985, 200 S. 6th Avenue

10:11 a.m. Community-wide Ringing of Bells

1:00 p.m. Interfaith Service
San Augustine Cathedral
190 S. Stone Avenue, Tucson, AZ

3 p.m. – 5 p.m. January 8th Lecture Series
Centennial Hall – University of Arizona Campus
1020 E. University Boulevard, Tucson, AZ
The event will be streamed live at http://ondemand.azpm.org/live.

6:30 p.m. – Candlelight vigil on University of Arizona Mall, with speeches
Congresswoman Giffords and her husband USN Captain (ret.) Mark Kelly will be attending.
The vigil will be streamed live at http://ondemand.azpm.org/live.

For my earlier blog with many more details on today’s events including other faith services (click here).

Today let us remember January 8, 2011.

UPDATES: my notes in comment section below about some of the events I attended today.

1/9/12 update: Channel 6 video of the vigil: http://azpm.org/news/story/2012/1/9/1616-view-jan-8-2012-candlelight-vigil/

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  • Carolyn Classen

    1st event: Participated in the Ben’s Bells distribution this morning, to place 5 kindness bells randomly in certain areas of  Tucson. As I drove by University Medical Center, I stopped by to see 6 large mounted photographs on the lawn about the memorial there last year.  Please rememeber to “be kind” today.

  • Carolyn Classen

    2nd event: drove to Northminster Presbyterian Church, where the memorial service for Phyllis Schneck was held last year.  Heard the bells ringing and rang my own too, softly.  R.I.P. Phyllis and the other five who died on 1/8/11.

  • Carolyn Classen

    3rd event: Interfaith Service at St. Augustine Cathedral, with Governor Jan Brewer and LD 30 Rep. Ted Vogt present, along w/ several victims, families of the deceased, Giffords’ staffers, heroes, first responders.  Particularly moving was the presentation of  red roses for the fallen six, by family members or representatives.  Readings from Christian, Jewish, Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist, & Baha’i faiths.  Larry Redhouse, Native American flutist accompanied many of the presentations.

  • Carolyn Classen

    4th event: extremely moving tributes of the 6 who died on 1/8/11 were given today at Centennial Hall, as an annual lecture program.  M/C Dr. Richard Carmona spoke eloquently on the legacies of each of these individuals, and many said “we lost some good ones” that day, taken down by a mentally ill person.  Heroine Pat Maisch also thanked the Tucson community who came to the aide of the injured that day, and several speakers spoke of the goodness & kindness that have come forth from this tragedy.

  • Carolyn Classen

    Fifth & final event: 5,000? people on the UA mall to listen to the speakers – MC Ron Barber, Sec. of State Ken Bennett (whose grandson is in the Las Vegas neonatal ICU), UA President Dr. Sander, Mayor Rothschild (who called Gabby his hero), Dr. Peter Rhee (“gunshot wounds are senseless violence”), Captain Kelly (“we are forever changed, this is a new reality, let go of the past”), Rabbi Stephanie Aaron who gave the final prayer.  Tucson Symphony Orchestra, their Choir, Calexico performed.  Congresswoman Giffords and her husband lit the first of the 19 candles on the stage for the deceased and the injured of 1/8/11, followed by many of the survivors, first responders, family members.  U.S. Senator Mark Udall (Colorado) and Congressman Jeff Flake (CD 6 from Phoenix) were also present, as well as many of Gabby’s staff members, Democratic party officials.

    • cochisecitizen

      Wonderful service. I watched on TV. The ending by Calexico and Tucson Symphony was so uplifting. It made me happy once again to live in southern Arizona.

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