Las Vegas Community Healing Garden: A Photo Essay
Memorial to the victims of the October 1, 2017 mass shooting
“It is my deep belief that in talking about the past, in understanding the things that have happened to us, we can heal and go forward…”-bell hooks
The Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting that took place on October 1, 2017 is considered the deadliest in contemporary US history, as of this writing, taking the lives of 60 people (58 were initially killed, with others others passing away due to injuries related to the shooting years later) and injuring over 400 others. Every time these events happen, we are stuck in an endless pattern of extending thoughts and prayers, then swiftly moving on until the next tragedy unfortunately occurs. People don’t think about what comes after: families and loved ones are forced to suffer in anguish and are left to pick up the pieces. Something that motivates me in my photography and writing is to shed light on that aspect. We owe it to the victims to NEVER forget.
Located in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas, mere minutes from Fremont Street and the nearby Arts District, The Community Healing Garden is open to the public and acts as a memorial to people whose lives were tragically cut short as a result of the vicious and senseless act of violence that took place on that day. I decided to pay a visit, and this essay contains reflections on my experience there.
The wrought-iron fence of the community garden and the oak “tree of life” (donated by Las Vegas legends Siegfried and Roy) were decorated with hand-painted ceramic tiles made by survivors and community members, and this one caught my attention immediately. Lives were needlessly torn apart as a result of what happened on October 1st, 2017, and now this innocent child has to grow up without a father. We often take those seemingly ordinary everyday moments for granted: waiting for the bus, playing pool, going on fishing trips…now gone forever; only memories remain.
Due in part to this country’s deeply intertwined connection to glorifying and sowing violent spectacle as a thread through our daily lives, along with the 24/7 news cycle and the media’s spotlighting the killers behind mass shootings instead of the victims (and survivors), the latter are often lost in the shuffle and overlooked.
Even though they’re gone, as this stone suggests, their imprint on our souls remains. Some don’t realize how important a person is to them until they’re gone, and then we would give anything to have them back. Their loss can have a ripple effect that can affect the whole community. The aftermath of the October 1, 2017 mass shooting bonded and forever altered the entire city together in collective mourning and intense grief.
Walking through the garden, I saw decorative pillars dedicated to each victim, with a brief biography written by their loved ones. Many of their stories struck me, but I found a uniting factor in their zest for life and their dedication to bringing others joy. They all came to the Route 91 festival to enjoy a night of music and fun and to forget their worries for a brief period, only for it to end in terror. None of them deserved this.
Numerous victims devoted their lives to service and helping those around them, and grappling with both the October 1st tragedy (as well as the December 6, 2023, mass shooting at UNLV) put me further in touch with how critical it is to extend empathy and kindness to those who are suffering. Even from a young age, I knew I wanted to be in a position to improve people’s lives, but I wasn’t sure what form it would take or HOW I would even do that. It took an act of violence to wake me up to the fact that I hold a privileged role as a teacher, and I HAVE to use it to the best of my abilities.
The ones who lost their lives at the Route 91 festival were coming together to revel in a night of music and joy before it ended in horrifying bloodshed. We often think of music as this abstract, intangible entity that is constantly in the background of our everyday existence, but it is truly a deeply embedded link that binds us all together, and I found that to be evident as I was taking in the sights at the garden.
While I wasn’t present at the site of the mass shooting on October 1st, I couldn’t help but be affected by its impact. It gave me a deeper appreciation for life and the people around me. Now, both experiencing the pain and anguish from the uniquely American epidemic of gun violence firsthand and also bearing witness to it during my time at the garden, I realize the importance of taking every moment I am alive as a gift and doing my best to take advantage of and seize every moment.
If any of my readers want to support the efforts toward the Forever One Memorial—a permanent landmark honoring the victims of the tragedy of October 1, 2017—please consider donating here.
For those looking for more information on gun violence prevention, I recommend checking out these resources: