Las Vegas community comes together for Vegas Strong 5K
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Tuesday will mark the seventh anniversary of the 1 October attack when a gunman opened fire at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival killing 58 people and injuring hundreds of others. On Sunday morning, the Las Vegas community came together for the annual Vegas Strong 5K to honor the victims and survivors of 1 October.
"We're not all just about glitz and glamor and sin," Boulder City resident Beth Tripp said. "We're about a close-knit community that comes together."
A sea full of neon orange flooded the streets of downtown Las Vegas as people ran to remember the tragic event that shattered a community nearly seven years ago.
"I woke up and I was in utter disbelief," Tripp said. "It was just a terrible crime, terrible crime."
And especially remembering the dozens of lives lost.
"We have to keep their memories alive," Tripp said.
Thousands of people from across the valley honored the memories of the victims and showed their support for the survivors and first responders. Some were young, some were old. Some walked, others ran. Some were on wheels, while others were on paws. All showing that no matter age, ability, or appearance, we are stronger together.
"We're strong, we stand together," Las Vegas resident Chris Haywood said.
"We also have to continue thanking our first responders, police officers, and firefighters," Tripp said. "This just doesn't go away. This is not a blip on a history page. We have to keep it alive here for Las Vegas to continue going."
On Tuesday, Clark County and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department will co-host a 1 October Sunrise Remembrance ceremony at 7:30 a.m. at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater in downtown Las Vegas. The public is invited to the event.
Later that evening, the City of Las Vegas will host a ceremony at 10:05 p.m. at the Las Vegas Community Healing Garden, where the names of each person killed will be read aloud. A bell will toll and a candle will be lit in remembrance of each victim.
