There are no words to express the heartfelt sympathy and empathy Tucsonans and others are feeling about the mass “rampage” on January 8, 2011 at the NW Safeway, where 6 innocent citizens were killed and 13 others wounded by gunman Jared Lee Loughner. Many of the wounded were taken to University Medical Center (UMC), 1501 N. Campbell (between Speedway and Elm Streets). Congresswoman Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords representing the 8th Congressional District was shot once in the head and has been at UMC since then in critical, then serious condition.

The memorial to the victims in front of University Medical Center has been growing since that day, with hundreds of flowers, candles, messages, stuffed animals, statues, flags, balloons, etc. etc. I’ve been to this memorial several times, helping to light candles and sharing the grief with the Tucson community. Especially heartening have been the lovely messages sent from school children praying for Gabby and the other survivors to get well.

Here are photos I took on January 21, 2011 almost 2 weeks after the shooting, and the day that CD 8 Congresswoman Giffords was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital in Houston, Texas. Let’s continue to pray for her full recovery.

I’ve also posted some photos of the memorial at Congresswoman Giffords’ Tucson district office (click here), and the one at the Safeway supermarket on Oracle/Ina Road (click here).

This photo above was taken by a friend a few days after the Safeway supermarket at 7110 N. Oracle Rd. (SE corner of Ina) reopened on Saturday January 15.

A Safeway employee told us yesterday (January 20) that the large upright wreath in the middle of the area blocked off by the blue barricades was where Congresswoman Giffords was standing when she was shot on January 8, 2011. 5 of her constituents and 1 staff aide were killed at that site, and 13 were also shot including the Congresswoman (in her head) by gunman Jared Lee Loughner who is in federal custody. More photos below of the memorial taken by my friend and/or me.

Someone has erected these two large polls with green prayer banners (photo below) — for people to write messages on the colorful strips of cloth to the families, or prayers for peace & nonviolence, etc. You might want to drop by if this idea appeals to you. The fellow in the front of this picture is writing on one of the cloth strips. Other strips are pinned above him, to wave in the wind. (I felt a lot more hopeful for the future after I pinned my prayer message on the banner.)

For photos of the memorial at Congresswoman Giffords’ district office at Swan/Pima, click here. And for photos of the memorial at UMC, click here.