The plan for a Harvest Music Festival memorial in Las Vegas has been given the green light.
On Tuesday, the Clark County Commission agreed to create an enduring tribute for the victims of the 2017 deadly Las Vegas massacre. The memorial will be set up on two acres of the ex-Las Vegas Village, which was previously where the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival took place. During this incident, the worst mass shooting in contemporary United States history occurred.
"Forever One" will feature a curve containing victims' names on a wall along with 58 "beams," known as "candles," each of which represents a life lost. It'll also have a central "tower of light" and an area for cozy performances.
As mentioned on JCJ's website, "Forever One" would be a spot for people to quietly reflect, express sorrow, and commemorate those who perished in this horrific event. It also acts as a haven to nurture the community's emotional recovery and hasten the healing process. Simultaneously, it serves as a reminder to promote peace, solidarity, and to prevent future violence.
JCJ, a company with offices in seven major U.S. cities, including Las Vegas, shared that they held "listening sessions" with multiple groups consisting of victims' family members, survivors, and emergency personnel. This was used to shape the design.
Five potential concepts were handed over to the memorabilia committee before they chose this specific design, after gathering feedback from the victims' families, survivors, and the general public.
"Without the overwhelming input from every party involved in this incident, we would not have a design that truly represents the therapeutic goals of the memorial." - stated Clark County Commission Chairman, Jim Gibson (whose district covers the festival venue).
Those Not Present in Person Shall Still Be Recognized
Among the sad casualties of the shooting were around 58 people who lost their lives on-site or within the ensuing hours. Additionally, two more individuals succumbed to their injuries months after the incident. The design of the memorial will mainly commemorate these 58 victims, albeit leaving out the last pair. Nonetheless, the committee chair, Tennille Periera, assured the Las Vegas Review-Journal that they were not excluded from the honor.
This site is at Reno Avenue and Giles Street, close to the Holy Redeemer Shrine, a Roman Catholic church that functioned as a safe haven for those fleeing the cataclysmic event in 2017.
Key portions of the enormous seven-acre original Las Vegas Village festival grounds were acquired in 2022 by North Dakota’s Three Affiliated Tribes for reportedly $90M from MGM Resorts International. MGM was kind enough to provide the remaining two acres for the current project.
Next, the Clark County Commission needs to figure out which nonprofit entity to manage the fundraising, constructing, and maintenance of this memorial. This organization must undergo approval before it's given these responsibilities at a forthcoming commission meeting.
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