Next Tuesday’s city council meeting in Uvalde will address the latest when it comes to the planning stages of a permanent memorial.
UVALDE, Texas — The prospect of state funding to assist with the development of a permanent memorial comes almost three years after tragedy struck Uvalde.
“Securing $10 million for the Robb Elementary Memorial Park is a meaningful step in honoring the lives we tragically lost nearly 3 years ago,” said State Rep. Don McLaughlin in a written statement.
The former Uvalde mayor added, “This memorial will stand as a tribute to not only the lives lost, but to the strength of the community that continues to move forward. I’m grateful to everyone who helped make this a priority.”
While the state budget is still being finalized in Austin, the House substitute for Senate Bill 1 calls for $10 million to be allocated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The funds would go toward constructing and maintaining a permanent memorial in honor of the 19 students and two teachers who were killed on May 24, 2022.
Details remain slim on the planning phase of establishing a permanent memorial. Talks of erecting a memorial go back to just months after the Robb Elementary shooting when the City of Uvalde’s strategic planning committee brainstormed preliminary ideas on how to go about the project.
In 2024, just days before the second year mark of the Robb Elementary shooting, victims’ families came together with legal counsel to announce a $2 million settlement was reached with the City of Uvalde.
On top of the payments to loved ones, among the many commitments laid out by the city included the creation of a committee focused on planning a permanent memorial.
“The City of Uvalde is continuing to work closely with families of the Robb Elementary shooting victims, in accordance with the settlement agreement announced last year, and will be providing an update to the public regarding the work on a memorial during next week’s City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 22nd,” said a City of Uvalde spokesman.
Jesse Rizo, uncle of Robb victim Jacklyn Cazares, stressed it’ll be vital for input from victims’ families to be engrained throughout the planning process of a permanent memorial. He also welcomes the idea of state funding being used for constructing and maintaining the site.
“I think it’s got to be handled very delicate so that you can accomplish the ultimate goal and that is to remember the children and the teachers that passed away,” Rizo said. “You want to make sure it’s done with dignity, something humble.”