Lest we forget: January 8, 2011
was a day of horror in Tucson Arizona. A deranged young man opened fire.
The dead on the scene included Federal District Chief Judge John Roll; Community Outreach Director for the Congresswoman whose event was attacked Gabe Zimmerman; Dorothy Morris, age 76; Phyllis Schneck, 79; Dorwan Stoddard, 76. Later, 9-year old Christina-Taylor Green died at the hospital. She was born September 11, 2001, granddaughter of former Baseball Manager Dallas Green.
Surviving, but seriously wounded, was the target of the attack, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who was holding a public event outside a local Safeway. She might well have died had not an intern from her office, Daniel Hernandez, applied pressure to her wound to keep her from bleeding out.
I will not mention the name of the shooter. This is a day to remember, to honor those who were lost.
Gabby will be at the anniversary event, along with her husband Mark Kelly.
Please, in the midst of all else that may fill this day for you, take a moment and remember the horror of that day, and what hope we may still derive from the courage of Daniel Hernandez and the others who responded, for the tenacity of Gabby Giffords, but most of all, for the loss of 6 innocent lives in yet another moment of madness that despoils this nation.