On October 1, 2017, five women who were strangers to each other attended the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas. After surviving the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, Cheryl Ast, Sue Ann Cornwell, Alicia Mierke, Sue Nelson, and Edie Wood found solace and unity in each other. They met at the healing garden, where 58 trees were planted in memory of the victims who lost their lives that day.
The group of friends recently visited an exhibit at the Clark County Government Center dedicated to honoring the events of October 1. Ast, who lives in Calgary, Canada, expressed how meeting her fellow survivors at the healing garden provided her with a sense of importance and belonging. The healing garden has become a sanctuary for her, where she painted rocks and found comfort in the shared experience of healing with others.
While the healing garden serves as a place of remembrance for the victims and survivors, a new memorial is being designed to honor everyone affected by the tragedy, including the first responders. The exhibit at the government center featured artwork, miniature angels, and artifacts left in memory of those who died. The survivors emphasized the importance of remembering the 58 individuals who lost their lives, as well as the two additional individuals who passed away years later due to injuries sustained during the shooting.
Eric Kimbrough, who visited the exhibit with his wife, was moved by the display of small angels and emphasized the significance of taking time to view the exhibit as a way of honoring history. Cornwell, a Las Vegas native, highlighted the importance of the new memorial in telling the full story of that fateful night and the healing process that has since taken place.
The survivors who gathered at the exhibit shared how they have formed a close bond, akin to a family, in the aftermath of the shooting. They wear symbols of unity, such as pins and keychains, that hold special meaning to them as survivors. The group described moments of both peace and emotion as they reunite each year around October 1, finding support and understanding in one another.
The exhibit serves as a reminder of the resilience and unity displayed by survivors in the face of tragedy. It honors the memory of those who lost their lives while showcasing the strength and healing that have emerged from the events of October 1, 2017. As the survivors continue to support each other and share their stories, they embody the spirit of healing and unity that has carried them through difficult times.