Roberto Marquez honors Hill Country flood victims with crosses at Nimitz Lake.
SAN ANTONIO — Crosses have been placed for almost every life lost in the deadly Hill Country floods at Nimitz Lake in Kerrville, Texas.
And it’s all thanks to community artist Roberto Marquez, who created memorials for Uvalde following the Robb Elementary shooting and the Quintana Road migrants.
After the recent tragedy hit close to home, Marquez thought is was time to use his talents to honor the flood victims.
“What inspires me the most and our main thing is solidarity, you know. I’m from the neighborhood and it would be a disgrace for me to know what is happening and not to come. On top of that. I’ve been doing this for years and it’s not a responsibility but I think it’s an honor, out of respect, and I think the families would eventually appreciate it, ” Marquez said.
On Thursday, Marquez and a group of strangers came together to place crosses along the lake water.
“Sometimes I notice that when someone starts something, other people get motivated and want to join. Today is a good example,” Marquez said.
“I only had like around 20 crosses by myself, working with maybe one person and someone came and joined us, and then two more, and then finally it was a group of eight to ten people. So, that’s how I was possible to finish with the crosses,” Marquez said.
Marquez and other organizers typically talk with family and friends of the victims to get a greater idea of who the person was, what they liked and what they dreamed of becoming.
He said this memorial and all of his previous projects are vital for the community to heal and to remember those who died and those who remain missing.
“This is very important because this is where eventually all those families, they come to see what happened as far as their lost one,” Marquez said. “The memorial becomes that place for a reunion.”
“All those families that are going through difficult moments, somehow they will know they’re not alone,” he said.
A public vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at 615 Water Street in Kerrville.