Flags on city buildings will fly at half mast to remember 7 high school basketball players and coach's wife
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People gather to pay their respects at the highway crash site where a vigil organized by Van Angels supporters has been held every year since 2009. A vigil to mark the 10th anniversary of the tragedy will be held on Thursday evening, January 11 from 9 pm to 1 am. |
Mayor Paolo Fongemie says flags will fly at half mast on city buildings every year on the date in memory of Javier Acevedo, Cody Branch, Nathan Cleland, Justin Cormier, Daniel Hains, all 17 and Nicholas Kelly, 15, Nickolas Quinn, who was 16, and Elizabeth Lord, 51.
"We did get some requests from community groups about how that sad anniversary would be marked in the city," said Fongemie.
Still a sensitive issue
The mayor said the losses are still painful for the families, community, and first responders to remember, especially on the anniversary."So we decided to do something symbolic with a day of mourning for our community and have the flags at half mast through our community with the city buildings," he said.
"It's a way to always remember this tragic day and also to pay our respect to the families and the first responders and everyone in the community."
The mayor said while it is still a sensitive issue, the idea of a day of mourning has been well received.
"Every year re-opens the wounds for our community and we still have first responders affected by this tragedy. So having a day of mourning an
d flying the flags half mast keeps it more as a solemn way of paying respects."
To read the original article on CBC go to http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/boys-in-red-day-of-mourning-1.4459347
