The 7/20 Memorial Foundation Reflection Memorial Garden is complete after the installation of the sculpture Ascentiate. The sculpture features 83 cranes, 70 for those injured and 13 for those lives lost, including the unborn child of Ashley Moser. The garden is located near the Aurora Municipal Center and is open to the public. Photo by Philip B. Poston/The Sentinel 
Randy Segura makes a mural in remembrance of Alex Sullivan, July 19, 2020 at the 7/20 memorial at the Aurora Municipal Center. PHOTO BY PHILIP B. POSTON/SentinelColorado 
Madison Kukucka draws a crane in remembrance of Alexander Teves, July 19, 2020, at the 7/20 memorial at the Aurora Municipal Center. PHOTO BY PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Randy Segura makes a mural in remembrance of Alex Sullivan, July 19, 2020 at the 7/20 memorial at the Aurora Municipal Center. PHOTO BY PHILIP B. POSTON/SentinelColorado 
Kevin Campbell crouches in front of a cross remembering Micayla Medek, just after midnight, July 20, 2020, during the annual 7/20 midnight vigil. Friends Campbell and Medek were sitting next to each other in the theater on that fateful night. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Origami swans hang on display at the entrance to the Water Wise Garden at the Aurora Municipal Center, July 20, 2020, during the annual midnight 7/20 vigil. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Reid Hettich delivers a prayer during the annual 7/20 midnight vigil July 20, 2020 at the 7/20 memorial. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado
AURORA | July 20 marks the eighth year since the Aurora Theater Shooting, and the lives of those lost, injured and forever changed were the focus of events over the weekend and late in Sunday night.
The weekend included chalk art commemorations by local artists, unveiling of a “peace box” and a vigil late Sunday night, which was available virtually for those who could not attend.
The events were held at the Aurora Water Wise Garden, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, on the Aurora Municipal Complex.
Gunman James Holmes shot dead 12 people July 20, 2012 and wounded more than 70 others when he opened fire in a crowded Aurora theater premiering a Batman movie. It was one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history.
Two years ago, a foundation created to honor victims and their families dedicated a remembrance garden near city hall, boasting an acclaimed sculpture, “Ascentiate,” depicting a flock of silver cranes taking flight.
Theresa Hoover, chairwoman of the memorial foundation, said previously that the memorial itself is unique. During the long process to design the memorial, the intent was for it to never be a somber place but instead a place to celebrate life and remember those that were lost.
“We didn’t want it to be a place like a cemetery, where you have headstones,” said Hoover, whose son AJ Boik was one of the victims. “This is a place to go and just remember, remember the good and not remember why this is there. It’s not a typical memorial where we want it to be ‘poor us.’ We want it to be ‘look at us.’ The community was so amazing throughout the whole thing, the fire, the police, we all came together and everybody helped everybody else out and we need to celebrate that.”
Events this year included:
• 15 artists were commissioned to create chalk art pieces at the memorial site on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. The art pieces are on display for the public from noon Sunday “until the rain washes them away.”
• Memorial foundation members unveiled a “paper crane peace box,” described as something like a lending library, created by a Columbine High School shooting survivor.
• A remembrance vigil late Sunday night. The remembrance included about 30 people this year and was held at the garden. The vigil started at 11:30 p.m. and ended at about 1 a.m. It was live-streamed the foundation’s Facebook page.