Photos of the people who lost their lives, as well as those still missing after the devastating July 4 flooding, line a fence on Water Street.
KERRVILLE, Texas — A growing memorial wall in the heart of Kerrville is bringing the Texas Hill Country community together as it grapples with immense loss following devastating floods.
Photos, flowers and handwritten messages now line a fence along Water Street. Each item is a poignant reminder of the lives lost and those who are still missing.
The tribute, known as the “Wall of Hope,” has become a place for mourning, reflection and support as the death toll continues to rise and search efforts remain underway.
“There’s no words to describe something like this,” Kerrville resident Angelica Sanchez said. “It’s very sad, but it’s good to remember people.”
Sanchez stopped by to honor Kerrville Tivy High School soccer coach Reece Zunker and his wife, both confirmed among the deceased.
“My son had the coach at Tivy High School, and it’s very sad to know that he’s not here and his family is not here anymore,” Sanchez said. “Many people are gone, and it’s just sad. Sadness, sadness. And we’re going to miss them.”
All day Thursday, local residents and community members from across the Texas Hill Country came by the memorial to pay their respects, adding mementos and embracing one another in shared grief.
“Sadness, just pure sadness. That’s the only emotion I can think of and process at this moment,” Kerrville native August Wolverton said.
Wolverton grew up in Kerrville and now lives in Comfort. Although she did not know any of the victims personally, she said the tragedy hit close to home in what she describes as a tight-knit community.
“Everyone knows someone one way or another, so just to know that this many lives and this many people have been affected, it’s just a lot,” Wolverton said.
The Wall of Hope is the work of Miami-based artist Leo Soto, who travels the country following major tragedies to help communities heal through memorials. He did something similar after the tragic school shooting in Uvalde in 2022.
“It’s really easy to get desensitized when you hear of a casualty count and you just think, so and so many people died, but when you take a look at every picture, there’s a family that’s grieving,” Soto said.
Soto said he printed out the photos, which he confirmed with the authorities, and placed them on the wall. He also brings the flowers, many of which have been donated. But Soto said what truly gives the memorial meaning are the personal touches brought by the community, including hand-written notes and stuffed animals.
“It’s really special because it really is a blank canvas and they can make it their own,” he said.
A sign near the memorial reads “Hill Country Strong,” a sentiment that has become a rallying cry. People are encouraged to stop by the wall and contribute, as Kerrville and the rest of the Texas Hill Country continue to navigate their heartbreak.