Press release from Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ office:

TUCSON – The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously today to name park facilities for an aide to U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and a 9-year-old girl, both of whom were killed in a Jan. 8 attack in which the congresswoman was seriously wounded.

The board voted to rename the Davidson Canyon trailhead for Gabe Zimmerman and to rename the Cañada del Oro linear river park for Christina-Taylor Green. Other victims of the shooting will be honored with markers at the Davidson Canyon trailhead, the board decided.

Gabe’s father, Ross Zimmerman, welcomed the board’s decision as a fitting honor for someone who grew up enjoying Arizona’s open spaces.

“Gabe was immersed in the natural world of the Desert Southwest from birth,” he said. “Before he could crawl, Gabe was carried in sling packs up the sides of mountains. Vacations tended to revolve around visits to National Parks, both inside and outside the United States. Emily Nottingham, his mother, became president of the Arizona Trail Association and Gabe helped her explore the passages of the Arizona Trail, including this one.”

Ross, a biologist and trail runner, noted that Gabe and his brother Ben were his favorite partners on numerous outdoor adventures.

“The spot chosen to memorialize our son is a fascinating confluence of Sonoran Desert edge and sheer canyon walls with beautiful vegetation,” he said. “Gabe visited the area with Emily on several occasions and we are touched that the trailhead there will bear his name.”

Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll agreed, noting that the renaming of the trail for Gabe had bipartisan support and was the result of many agencies working together.

“This is an appropriate tribute for fine public servant who greatly enjoyed Arizona’s outdoors,” said Carroll, who represents the district in which the trail is located. “Those who didn’t know Gabe will know him through this trail.”

The 30-year-old Zimmerman was community outreach director for Giffords when he was killed at a “Congress on Your Corner” event hosted by Giffords. Zimmerman organized the event at a shopping center on Tucson’s Northwest side.

Zimmerman was a natural athlete who enjoyed hiking and running in the Sonoran Desert. The Arizona Trail Association asked the county to rename the Davidson Canyon trailhead the Davidson Canyon-Gabe Zimmerman Memorial Trailhead.

Zimmerman was a member of the association and, while working for Congresswoman Giffords, helped get the Arizona Trail designated as a National Scenic Trail. The Davidson Canyon trail links to the Cienega Creek Natural Preserve and the Arizona Trail.

The Tucson National Estates Improvement Association asked the county to rename the Cañada del Oro River Park to the Cañada del Oro Christina-Taylor Green Memorial River Park in honor of the 9-year-old girl who was killed in the shooting.

The park runs along the Cañada del Oro wash from North La Cholla Boulevard to North Thornydale Road.

CONTACT
C.J. Karamargin
Communications Director
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
Arizona’s 8th Congressional District
(520) 881-3588 or (520) 909-8482

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to Visit UA Campus Wednesday

General News January 10, 2011
from UANews | “President Obama will speak at a memorial event at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12 to support and remember victims of the mass shooting in Tucson, and to lift the spirits of those who have been personally affected by this tragedy.”

The event, “Together We Thrive: Tucson and America” starts at 6 p.m. at McKale Center (just west of Campbell Avenue, north of E. 6th Street) and is free and open to the public. Doors will open at 4 p.m.

University of Arizona President Robert Shelton, as well as state and federal officials will also speak at the event– Governor Jan Brewer, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, and Justice Anthony Kennedy, Circuit Justice for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit are expected to attend.

“The event will include a Native American blessing, a moment of silence, a poetry reading, and a presentation of a chain featuring messages from the public.”

Attendees should arrive early because a capacity crowd is expected, and there will be increased security due to the President’s presence.

Six people were shot & killed and 13 others injured on Saturday January 8, 2011 at a Safeway store in NW Tucson, by 22 year old suspect Jared Lee Loughner. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of CD 8 was apparently his target, and 3 of her Congressional district aides were also shot — one (Gabe Zimmerman) died at the scene. Federal district court Chief Judge John Roll was also killed, and 9 year old Christina Taylor Green.

UPDATE: video of event online (click here).

Photo of event tshirt from photographer Jon Scanlon (who attended the event);

According to the Tucson Sentinel, the memorial service for Christina-Taylor Green will be on Thursday, January 13 at 1 p.m. The 9 year old child was killed on January 8, 2011 at the mass shooting at the Safeway store on Oracle/Ina Roads. Five others were killed and as many as 19 were injured in total.

http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011011_green_funeral

The funeral Mass will be at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 8560 N. Shannon Rd. in northwest Tucson. Phone (520) 297-7357.

Bishop Gerald Kicanas is expected to preside over the Catholic service.

Green was just elected to the student council at Mesa Verde Elementary School, and apparently had aspirations of becoming a politician, hence her standing in the constituent line to speak to her Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Congressional District 8 on Saturday. The neighbor Susan Hileman who brought Green to that event was shot & injured, & remains hospitalized at UMC.

More information about Christina from the Arizona Daily Star:

Christina Taylor Green was only 9, but the third-grader already was an aspiring politician. Her parents say Christina had just been elected to the student council at Mesa Verde Elementary School and had been interested in politics from a young age. She already had told her parents she wanted to attend Penn State and have a career that involved helping those less fortunate than her. The brown-eyed athletic girl loved to swim with her 11-year-old brother Dallas, her lone sibling. Her mother, Roxanna Green, said Christina also loved animals, singing, dancing and gymnastics. She also was the only girl on her Canyon del Oro Little League baseball team. Her grandfather, former major-league pitcher Dallas Green, managed the 1980 world champion Philadelphia Phillies. Christina’s father, John Green, is a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Christina was born on the tragic day of Sept. 11, 2001.

Rest in peace young Christina. Heartfelt condolences to the Green family.

UPDATE from Arizona Public Media:

The family of Christina Taylor Green, killed in the tragic shooting in Tucson on Saturday, January 8, 2011, has announced the creation of a charitable memorial fund to honor the life and memory of this special little girl. The fund will be held by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona. John Green, Christina’s father said, “Our family has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for our sweet Christina. This memorial fund will ensure her legacy for the children in our community.”Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Christina Taylor Green may do so by:· Logging on to the website of the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona at http://www.cfsoaz.org and clicking on the link to the Christina Taylor Green Memorial Fund,· Or by contacting the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona by email at christinataylorgreenmemorial@cfsoaz.org, or by calling (520) 545-0313.· Checks may be sent to:The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona In Memory of Christina Taylor Green2250 E. Broadway Boulevard Tucson, AZ 85719

1/12/11 Obituary in Arizona Daily Star (linked through Tucsoncitizen.com)
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tucson/obituary.aspx?n=christina-taylor-green&pid=147763094

Photos from the funeral:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/tc-guest-blog/2011/01/13/photos-from-services-for-christina-taylor-green/