10 people were killed in the shooting on Monday afternoon.
The Flagstaff Star in Boulder, Colorado, has been a staple of the holiday season since 1947 when it started as a Christmas decoration for city residents. It has since been the "unofficial" start of the holiday season for residents ever since, guiding "locals through Thanksgiving, and Christmas, and into the new year."
The star was lit back on March 23, 2020, when the coronavirus changed our world; and now, exactly a year later, on March 23, 2021, the star lights up again in honor of the 10 victims lost in the mass shooting on Monday afternoon:
Denny Stong, 20
Neven Stanisic, 23
Rikki Olds, 25
Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
Suzanne Fountain, 59
Eric Talley, 51
Teri Leiker, 51
Kevin Mahoney, 61
Lynn Murray, 62
Jody Waters, 65
Chase Dolan, a local photographer, captured the Flagstaff Star being lit up this morning:
The star is managed by the Boulder Chamber, which released a statement on the tragic shooting:
"For the moment, though, we simply unite in our shared grief for the tragic taking of life from such a violent act and we send our heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost loved ones. We also send our deepest thanks to today's first responders—both our local units and those from across the region—for their swift action and bravery. Tonight, as we mourn for the victims of today's senseless acts, we light the Boulder Star in their honor and in our shared commitment as a community to the support for their families."
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