'A Day to Remember' Honors Theater Shooting Victims Ahead Of Anniversary
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Monday marks three years since the Aurora theater shooting when a gunman opened fire inside the crowded theater, killing 12 people and wounding another 70.
The Heritage Christian Center in Aurora on Sunday honored the victims with "A Day to Remember" and CBS4's Mark Taylor was there.
Barely a block away from the Century 16 Theater sits the Heritage Christian Center where a memorial candle burned for each life lost inside that fateful theater. On the heels of a jury's guilty verdict, Bishop Dennis Leonard preached a message of healing and restoration.
"Every crisis in our lives is a turning point," Leonard told the people who had gathered. "God is well pleased with me because my enemies did not triumph over me."
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Gov. John Hickenlooper also spoke to the Aurora church. The memorial service honored not only the victims, but the dozens of survivors -- one of whom is Marcus Weaver.
"It's about hope and moving forward," Weaver said. "I feel that by being here today I'm honoring Rebecca (Wingo), I'm honoring Jessica (Ghawi) and all the people who passed in the theater," Weaver said.
Weaver says the community of those hurt by what happened is the same one now working together to rebuild what was lost.
"This community was hurt but now we are moving forward together," he said.
Weaver added that while he's satisfied with the verdict, it was just another stepping stone on the road to recovery.
"We are just very thankful that we keep going through these stepping stones, and each step of the way we become stronger and stronger, and not just as individuals, but as a community," he said.
White crosses were placed outside the theater after the shooting and were brought back for a vigil scheduled for 8 p.m. Sunday at the corner of Alameda Avenue and Sable Street across from the theater.
