AURORA | Rick Crandall is familiar with how important it is for a community to honor the dead.
Crandall worked for more than a decade to build the Colorado Freedom Memorial to honor soldiers from Colorado who died or went missing in every U.S. conflict since the Spanish-American War in 1898. At a dedication ceremony on May 26, families of fallen soldiers stood together to admire the 6,000 names etched on a striking set of glass panels. Now, Crandall is helping lead an effort to bring Aurora together to reflect on those who were killed or maimed last year during the Aurora theater massacre.
“This was one day where everyone understood they were not alone,” Crandall said.
It’s a different set of circumstances, but Crandall hopes that at a planned July 20 remembrance ceremony, families of victims who died in the theater shooting will feel the same way — that they’re not alone.
“Families are grieving and they suffered a terrible loss in a most unexpected, awful way,” he said. “But to be able to rise above the sadness and celebrate what a gift those people were to everybody is so important.”
The “Day of Remembrance,” planned by the city, will include a morning ceremony to remember the 12 people who died in the shootings and the more than 50 people who were wounded. After the ceremony, several activities will be offered at the Aurora Municipal Center including counseling, yoga, poetry readings and art therapy projects. Aurora residents also have the opportunity to participate in community service projects throughout the city.
“We want to have a day that is meaningful and that remembers those who were lost and those who were impacted,” said Kim Stuart, the city’s communications director. “We recognize that people have different needs, so the day includes many positive ways individuals and the community can come together.”
Residents can participate in 10 community service projects that day including sorting medical supplies to be donated, sprucing up the small garden area at the city’s new resiliency center and painting a church.
Crandall, a U.S. Air Force veteran and radio show host, said the opportunity to help out with local community service projects will be therapeutic for people.
“We’re honoring the dreams and goals and aspirations of people who lost their lives that day and those who were wounded, by doing something that’s bigger than all of us,” he said.
7/20 DAY OF REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY SCHEDULE:
7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. – community gathering and ceremony at the Aurora Municipal Center’s great lawn, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway.
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. – healing activities will be offered at the Aurora Municipal Center including mental health counseling, art therapy projects, yoga, a nature walk and poetry reading.
People can also participate in several community service projects at various locations in Aurora during that time. The community service projects have been organized by Project C.U.R.E., Food Bank of the Rockies, Aurora Mental Health Center, Aurora North Middle School and others. Project descriptions and registration information can be found at auroragov.org/720volunteer.
Residents can also drop off donations at the Aurora Municipal Center for a variety of non-profit organizations.
• Aurora Mental Health: new hygiene items, sunscreen, diapers, crayons, pencils, pens, paper, notebooks.
• Arapahoe House: household items, new and gently used clothing, new hygiene items, craft making items.
• Comitis Crisis Center: new socks and underwear for all ages and sizes.
• Sungate Kids: new teddy bears, crayons, coloring books, markers
• Gateway Battered Women’s Services: toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, canned fruit.
• Metro Community Provider Network: diapers, small spiral notebooks, new hygiene items, new clothes for children sizes 12 months to 2 years, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, baseball caps, band aids and antiseptic cleaner, pill box organizers, backpacks, luggage, satchels, reading glasses, bottled water, protein bars and healthy snacks.
• Aurora Warms the Night: hats, gloves, pull open cans of soup.
• ARC of Aurora: non-perishable food items, hygiene items, paper products.
• Boys and Girls Club: gently used sports and recreation equipment, school supplies.
For more information, visit auroragov.org.