5/14 Blue Flag Initiative honors victims of mass shooting

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Community leaders including Mayor Byron Brown and members of the city’s common council came together Tuesday morning to remember the victims of the Tops mass shooting.

Together, the group unveiled blue flags outside the Johnnie B. Wiley Amateur Sports Pavilion. According to the city, the 5/14 Blue Flag Initiative is a way to honor the lives lost on May 14, 2022.

“The flags were made during recent therapeutic workshops that took place throughout the community,” according to a release from the City of Buffalo. “Flagmaking workshops will continue to take place at various Buffalo Public Schools.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul came home Monday to Erie County to reveal the chosen design for a memorial approved by the 5/14 Memorial Commission — a committee established by Hochul and Brown. The memorial, a building and 10 interconnected pillars, will be funded with $5 million in state money and be built on a property owned by Buffalo Public Schools.

Tuesday morning, Tops unveiled its 5/14 Honor Space, which features a sculpture and 10 granite honor bollards in memory of the 10 people who were killed.

Tuesday at 2:28 p.m., there will be a moment of silence and the tolling of bells in remembrance of them.

You can watch the full conference revealing the efforts of the 5/14 Blue Flag Initiative in the video below:

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Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award, JANY Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

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