AURORA, Colo. — A candlelight vigil and first responders procession is scheduled for late Thursday night and early Friday to mark the 6th anniversary of the Aurora movie theater shooting.
Thirteen people were killed and 70 others were injured when a gunman opened fire during an opening night showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" on July 20, 2012.
The 7/20 Memorial Foundation is inviting the community to join the victims' families and survivors for a candlelight vigil starting at 11:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Early Friday morning, at the same time the shots started in 2012, first responders in Aurora will hold a procession from the theater to the Reflection Garden at the Aurora Municipal Center.
"They go silent over the radios, and pay tribute," said Heather Dearman, the vice-chair of the 7/20 Foundation. "Then (first responders) turn on lights and sirens on and proceed to the Reflection Garden. Everyone who gathers there meets them and we just have a special moment together."
This year, those attending the vigil and procession will also have a chance to see the new 7/20 Memorial. It was installed two weeks ago and features 83 cranes in honor of the survivors and those who lost their lives.
Dearman said the anniversary events are an important tradition.
"They'll keep doing it for as long as we need to do it," Dearman said. "I think it's special that we keep doing it, no matter what, because some day, someone out there who isn't ready now — they might be ready five years from now, and we want to be there for them."
Learn more about the events here.
The new memorial sculpture will be officially dedicated next week.