The revelation raised new questions about whether lives were lost because officers did not act faster to stop the gunman, who was ultimately killed by Border Patrol tactical officers. Funeral directors, embalmers and others from across Texas offered help. followed by a. Like others, shes still trying to find ways to help, so she joined a local meal train for the grieving families. The quieter road ahead for this grieving community was perhaps best captured at the cemetery at dusk on the eve of Laylas funeral, when loved ones of the children already buried visited graves. The Uvalde funeral home planned 16 of the 21 funerals. With more funerals and visitations scheduled Wednesday for victims of the deadliest US school shooting in nearly 10 years, more changes in authorities' narrative of how the May 24 massacre unfolded. A large teddy bear is placed at a memorial in front of crosses bearing the names of the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, May 28. Creating an obituary on Echovita is free. After Ramos wrecked the truck, two men at the funeral home heard the crash and ran toward the accident scene. Mourner Erika Santiago, her husband and their two children wore purple shirts adorned with images of the victims to Ameries funeral. Multiple investigations are still examining the disastrous police response, which saw cops waiting more than an hour to finally gun down Ramos as parents desperately tried to storm in themselves. If you arent first, youre last, she would say, according to her obituary. She described Amerie as "a nice little girl who smiled a lot," and who was "so humble and charismatic but full of life.". On Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of mourners turned out for the funeral Mass for Amerie Jo Garza, a smiling fourth-grader who was killed a week ago when 18-year-old Salvador Ramos stormed into her . Funeral events began in Uvalde, Texas, as townspeople continued to grapple with the impact of the violence and unanswered questions surrounding law enforcement's response to the shooting. last weeks mass shooting at Robb Elementary School, he told the Washington Post after Saturdays Mass, Amerie Jo Garza and Maite Rodriguez, both 10, Thailand's 'most beautiful transgender woman' and husband wear $580K in attire at extravagant wedding, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; 'We are coming,' sheriff says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh's new mugshot revealed after double life sentence, Rebel Wilson says she was banned from Disneyland for 30 days for taking a bathroom selfie, Hyped and hungry: Scenes from AIA's Open Division HS basketball Media Day at the Coliseum, 'Daisy Jones & the Six' chases Fleetwood Mac-era rock drama. Honan, the funeral director who was tasked with preparing many of the Sandy Hook victims for burial, said the Uvalde shooting is affecting him its a reminder of what occurred 10 years ago, a tragedy he and many others never thought would occur again. Initially, the funerals had been carried out at an almost unforgiving pace. Local funeral homes did not want to perform the funeral service of the Uvalde school gunman. Officials have said students and teachers begged 911 operators for help as the Uvalde school district police chief, Pete Arredondo, told more than a dozen officers to wait in a hallway. There were four funerals one day, four funerals the next day. The Uvalde funeral homes are working with the . Layla was remembered by her family for her love of dancing, the Dallas Cowboys and singing with her father on the way to school and her mother on the way back. Amid continuing national media interest, Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary the second funeral home in the town, site of the funeral for Maite Rodriguez requested no reporters or photographers on property grounds. Associated Press in Uvalde, Texas. Wednesday, 2 p.m. A week after a gunman stormed into Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, funerals began on Tuesday for the 19 young students and two teachers killed as well as the husband of a . Mourners paid their respects to 10-year-old Amerie Jo Garza Monday at a funeral home in Uvalde, Texas. That last mile to the cemetery is also the first mile of the road to come for those left behind, trying not so much to move on as to some way, somehow find a path forward. Neither man was wounded. The little girl who loved to draw had just received a cellphone for her 10th birthday. Can religion save us from Artificial Intelligence? Ellie was quiet even around family but loved doing videos and had been already practicing with her older sister a choreography for her quinceaera party the celebration of a girls 15th birthday even though it was still five years away, Arizmendi said. May 31, 2022 Updated 6:58 PM PT. We had a counselor to their place in 45 minutes, Lucas said. The federal Department of Justice has announced an investigation into the polices response. At the end of the week, shell also cook for the funeral home employees to offer them a reprieve at the end of their grueling work for the Robb families. The desert-brown church with the tall bell tower was filled to overflowing. State police said Tuesdaythat the teacher who at one point propped open an exterior doorto the school had closed it before the gunman used it to get inside. TV Listings. They face out in four directions from the pool and fountain in [the] town square. Eliahna "Ellie" Garcia would have turned 10 over the weekend, but instead of getting ready to sing her "Happy Birthday," her family was preparing for her funeral. He had just turned 18, permitting him to buy the weapons under federal law. All of our staff grew up in Uvalde County and attended school in Uvalde County and believe that everyone deserves a dignified and respectful funeral service, Taylor Michelle Massey told the paper. The two 10-year-old fourth graders were among 19 children and two teachers killed when 18 . Maite Rodriguez's funeral was scheduled for later Tuesday at one of the funeral homes in Uvalde, Texas. Guns N Roses Sweet Child O Mine was a favorite. Visit this link to create a free obituary then read the advantages of creating an obituary on Echovita and either click Start now or Create an obituary for your loved to begin. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong). It is going to take time to heal the devastation that the families there have gone through and are going through. Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home and Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary made the . Nine of the dead children and two of their teachers passed through Sacred Heart on their way to the cemetery now dappled with fresh mounds of dirt. Speaking to the U.S. Houses oversight and reform committee last week, the parents of 10-year-old Lexi Rubio tearfully described how she had recently been recognized for her straight As and her dreams to be a lawyer. Some sobbed throughout the service in which Archbishop Gustavo Garca-Siller offered thanks for Irma Garcia's dedication. On Monday and Tuesday, visitations were held for two victims. Pallbearers carry the casket of Amerie Jo Garza following funeral services at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Tuesday, May 31, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. Everyone in the small town is pulling together for the funerals. Simply browse the Uvaldes obituaries listing you can find on this page or conduct a search on the web site with your loved ones name. Find an Obituary. Ellies older sister is doing OK, Arizmendi said, understanding their family and others face a long road to recovery. The U.S. Department of Justice announced Sunday a review of the law enforcement response. I have not met with the families yet. The two 10-year-old fourth graders were among 19 children and two teachers killed when. All rights reserved), (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. Thats on your hands!: Ted Cruz confronted after NRA convention over gun reform, Uvalde prepares for school massacre victims funerals as obits emerge, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected orders over 100 - eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK March 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this March, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Wakes and funerals for the 21 victims are scheduled throughout the week. UVALDE From Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the path to eternal rest is a 1-mile drive down Fort Clark Road to Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery. MaKenna loved going to the ranch with her dad to feed animals and ride on the ranger. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, NFL on the green -- Brady, Rodgers, Mahomes and Allen play golf for charity, The fantastic voyage of Rachel Welch: Actress and international sex-symbol. She is a hero, Esquivel said. May 30, 2022, 2:23 PM PDT By Suzanne Gamboa and Antonio Planas UVALDE, Texas On the day the nation sets aside to remember those killed in war, Uvalde began saying farewell to the 19 children. Soon after, Irma and Jose were married in Uvalde on June 28, 1997., Irma and Joe Garcia were high school sweethearts. Mourners pay their respects at the funeral for Robb Elementary School teacher Irma Linda Garcia and her husband, Joe Garcia, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde on June 1, 2022. According to the school district website, the Uvalde high school graduation was postponed out of respect for the victims of the shooting. Thats 75 extra people added to their normal workload, Diaz said. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Age 57. Pallbearers carry the casket of Amerie Jo Garza at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde, Texas, on May 31, 2022. COVID-19 Map. A Funeral Mass will be held for the couple at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m. One of them Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home is just steps from Robb Elementary, and had served as a shelter for students fleeing the gunman. Lucas says that in small communities like Uvalde, its not uncommon to have only one funeral director. Pallbearers unload Amerie Jo Garza's casket for her funeral at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde on Tuesday. Hundreds were inside. Family and friends mourn during the funeral of Amerie Jo Garza, who died in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School, at Sacred Heart Catholic church in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday. A town florist told NPR florists from other towns also offered help. The blame for an excruciating delay in killing the gunman even as parents outside begged police to rush in and panicked children called 911 from inside was placed on the school district's police chief, Pete Arredondo. A man delivers a wreath at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary prior to the funeral of 10-year-old Eliahna Torres on June 2, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas. Services for Amerie Jo Garza and Maite Rodriguez held on Tuesday, with 19 more planned for coming weeks. It could take up to a year for complete autopsy reports to be completed for Ramos and his 21 victims, Diaz said partly because the Bexar County medical examiner also has to conduct 53 autopsies for the immigrants who died while being smuggled in a tractor-trailer in late June. Garza was one of the 21 people 19 students and two teachers who died in . After the Sandy Hook shooting, MacDonald and a team of volunteers banded together to help the Honan Funeral Home care for the victims and their families. He knows what happens, he said. Since the May 24 school shooting, 20 families have taken turns burying their dead. You have to set everything up obituaries, death certificates, funeral arrangements. As family and friends unleash their grief, investigators will push for answers about how police responded to the shooting, and lawmakers have said theyll consider what can be done to stem the gun violence permeating the nation. The first visitation was scheduled for Monday at Hillcrest Funeral Home across the street from Robb Elementary School, where Salvador Ramos, 18, staged his horrific attack followed by an evening rosary and a Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church the following afternoon. At one memorial, the mourners brought with them so many white pillar candles, set in a halo encircling the white crosses bearing the names of the dead, that the scent of melted wax under the harsh sun permeated the entire square. Diaz said the autopsies are complete. You couldnt go out and buy a lot of weapons.. When she knew she was right, and she so often was, she stood her ground, Kimberly Rubio told the members of Congress with her husband, Felix, by her side. Eliahana Cruz Torres was one of 19 children and 2 adults killed in Uvalde at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022. Funeral homes in Uvalde are offering free services to the families of the 19 children and two adults who were killed. Ardern won passage of gun control measures after a white supremacist killed 51 Muslim worshippers at two Christchurch mosques in 2019. I mean, its just a shame that these things just dont stop, Honan said. She described Amerie as a nice little girl who smiled a lot, and who was so humble and charismatic but full of life.. Her favorite hobbies were swimming, drawing, and most of all spending time with family. Six pallbearers wearing white shirts and gloves carried a small casket. Her family had been preparing a party. The ten-year-old loved to play softball, gymnastics, loved to dance and sing, play with fidgets and spend time with her family, according to her obituary. Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (UCISD) has opened a memorial fund to accept . While the community of Uvalde continues to mourn the deaths of 19 children and two adults shot inside Robb Elementary School, two local funeral homes are overwhelmed. They began their relationship in high school and it flourished into a love that was beautiful and kind, their joint obituary reads. Amerie Jo Garza was kind, caring, blunt, loving, sweet, sassy and of course funny. Garza was killed in last week's elementary . (Torres family) Eliahana Torres June 1: Visitation from 2-9 pm. Layla Salazar, 11, was a runner and a fast one at that, taking home six first-place ribbons from a recent field day. Update: The Dallas Morning News will run information about the 21 victims of the Uvalde massacre as their funerals are held. For a city trapped in its tragedy, the last of the local funerals marked a turning point. The families of Robb will remain inextricably linked, each starting every day knowing they will live it out differently than they should have, without their children or their mothers. Uvalde County Justice of the Peace Eulalio Lalo Diaz Jr. said the bodies of all 21 victims were first sent to the medical examiners office in San Antonio for autopsies, which he said is standard for a major crime. Uvalde, Texas, funeral homes did not want to handle services for accused Robb Elementary School shooter 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, forcing the local coroner to store his body for weeks as the. Show us with your support. Instead on Monday, the first two of 19 children slain inside a classroom were being remembered at funeral visitations. Uvalde funeral home providing free services to families of Texas school shooting victims Camille Sauers May 25, 2022 Updated: May 25, 2022 12:15 p.m. A woman cries and hugs a young girl while. Search Uvalde obituaries and condolences, hosted by Echovita.com. Lucas and a slew of other funeral directors, staff and volunteers across the state have been working tirelessly since Tuesdays deadly shooting to provide the only two local funeral homes in Uvalde Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home(located across the street from Robb Elementary) andRushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary with the resources, staff and funding they need to lay the 21 victims to rest. When you see it on TV its one thing, he said. Among the mourners at Ameries visitation were some of Maites relatives. Were here to celebrate their life, Morales said in an interview. This morning has been a little bit harder. Maite Rodriguez's funeral was scheduled for later Tuesday at one of the funeral homes in Uvalde, Texas. The Washington Post reports that volunteers from across the country have flown in to assist with various aspects of the funerals. Among them, according to the Texas Funeral Directors Association, are morticians who are experts at the art of facial reconstruction.. Who Where Receive obituaries Daniel Reyna Jr. February 23, 2023 (74 years old) View obituary Ricardo Martinez February 27, 2023 (79 years old) View obituary The casket held a 10-year-old girl who loved purple. I wanted them to see it.. Jae C. Hong/AP He spent several days in Newtown to help. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Once they got to him, the funeral homes in town said, We dont want to deal with him, said Diaz, a justice of the peace also overwhelmed dealing with the deaths of immigrants in a human-smuggling horror in June. The repeated funerals have traveled the short stretch of road sometimes for as long as 20 minutes, oftentimes twice in one day in solemn affairs interrupted only by the crowing of the roosters that freely roam the neighborhood. ", Another funeral Wednesday was for 10-year-old Jose Flores Jr., also at Sacred Heart. Less than a month later all but one of the countrys 120 lawmakers voted in favor of banning military-style semiautomatic weapons. One day after Ameries funeral, a joint funeral Mass is scheduled at the same church for teacher Irma Garcia and her husband, Joe, who tragically dropped dead two days after his wife was killed in the school massacre. We made sure that they had the best talent possible to take care of these families so that their final farewell could be as good as it could possibly be, he said. Any funeral director who has been called into this profession would drop what theyre doing in possible to help any way they can, he added. I understand there were other children as well, but were just waiting to get her back, Salazar said. Encouraging state red flag laws to keep guns away from those with mental health issues, and addressing school security and mental health resources were on the table, said Sen. Christopher S. Murphy (D-Conn.), who is leading the effort. He said tears were shed. The Robb Elementary slaughter was the second-deadliest school shooting in US history. The unremitting pace of ritualized mourning ended Thursday as the town buried an 11-year-old victim of the Robb Elementary shooting. It is just sad for all the children., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. But this time, the task was much heavier for the crew at the quaint mortuary. In the early afternoon the day before Laylas funeral, the memorial was almost empty, save for a handful of visitors clutching churros handed out by an eager visiting vendor. To Martinez, growing up in Uvalde was like growing up with a large extended family. Related: Waiting to confront Texas school shooter was the wrong decision, police admit along with other failures. One last victim, Uziyah Garcia, remains to be buried in his hometown of San Angelo, where the 10-year-old spent his last spring break learning football pass patterns from his grandfather. Amerie's funeral was the first since the massacre, with Maite Rodriguez's scheduled for later Tuesday at a Uvalde funeral home. The litany of visitations, funerals and burials began Monday and will continue into mid-June. Weve got so much stuff going on with our own. Martinez is making plans to find a place for the sign thats been sitting outside her home now that its served its purpose. Candles are lit at dawn at a memorial site in the town square for the victims killed in this week's Robb Elementary School shooting Friday, May 27, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. When this tragedy happened, we knew exactly what we needed to be doing.. On Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of mourners turned out for the funeral Mass for Amerie Jo Garza, a smiling fourth-grader who was killed a week . Jimmy Lucas, president of the Texas Funeral Directors Assn., brought a hearse and volunteered to work as a driver, pitch in for services, or do whatever he could, he told NBC News. People, funeral directors, embalmers, caskets anything, Lucas said. She was a member of the 4-H club and loved animals. Funeral arrangements for Uvalde elementary school shooting victims 'Day by day:' Uvalde survivors recover from wounds, trauma Irma and Joe Garcia, a teacher and her heartbroken husband, are. Sometimes thats easier said than done, especially in this case.. Enchiladas. Then, because there isn't enough space at Uvalde's two funeral homes, many bodies were sent to out-of-town funeral homes until services near. With the funerals coming to a close, she believes what the families need now is time to heal. Place an Obituary. Mourners comfort each other Wednesday during the burial service for Irma Garcia and her husband Joe Garcia at Hillcrest Cemetery in Uvalde, Texas. Martinez wanted all the families to know they would not be abandoned in their grief. The funeral directors and morticians in Uvalde have ushered the city into a long, grueling phase of grieving, anger and sadness. Uvalde has about 15,000 residents and two funeral homes. At Amerie's funeral, mourner Erika Santiago, her husband and their two children wore purple shirts adorned with images of the victims. On Friday, the head of the Texas department of public safety, Steven McCraw, told reporters: It was the wrong decision. The commander, he said, thought there were no children at risk. Esquivel also said classmates said Maite was brave during the shooting. Officials said Arredondo believed the suspect was barricaded in an adjoining classroom and was no longer actively attacking students or teachers. Submit an Obituary. Chicken casserole. Have you had any water today? Its really easy, in this profession, to look up and its 7 oclock at night and you realize you havent done anything for yourself that day.. by Alexa Ura Even though MacDonald and his association are halfway across the country, he said that after funeral directors and other funeral home staff learned about the shooting in Uvalde they immediately reached out to ask how they could help. Today we stand for Lexi, and as her voice we demand action.. He says Honan Funeral Home served nearly half of the victims. The Uvalde funeral homes are working with the families on when they can see their loved ones, he said. From her house at the corner of Fort Clark and Lovers Lane, Olga Ojeda watched every single procession go by. Eventually, Castle Ridge in Crystal City at least 40 miles outside of Uvalde handled Ramos funeral arrangements. More than $2.7 million has been raised for the children of a Uvalde teacher, A Uvalde coroner is haunted by identifying the bodies of children and an old friend. Some crouched down, reflecting quietly next to mounds of dirt that had not yet receded into the Earth; others tended to the flowers and tributes left behind. Even little things, like, Have you eaten today? Ms Garcia, 48, was welcomed by our Lord and Savior while selflessly protecting her angels; her husband, the obituary reads, joined the love of his life and was also welcomed into the arms of his wife, Irma and our Lord on Thursday. UVALDE From Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the path to eternal rest is a 1-mile drive down Fort Clark Road to Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery. I think things have gotten so bad that everybodys getting more rational, at least thats my hope, Biden told reporters before honoring the nations fallen in Memorial Day remarks at Arlington National Cemetery. Amerie had been given a cellphone for her birthday. The gathering for 10-year-old Amerie Jo Garza was at Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home in Uvalde, Texas, directly across from the grade school where the children, along with two teachers, were. The company had received a large donation from the city, she said, to help with the stones and supplier payments. Joe Garcia died two days later. Blue hearts in the middle of each cross contain messages from dozens of loved ones. Visitation for another 10-year-old, Maite Rodriguez, was at the towns other funeral home. A bipartisan group of senators talked over the weekend to see whether they could reach even a modest compromise on gun safety legislation. Two more victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School were. As plans for 21 funerals began to take shape, the owners of a local monument company were steeling themselves on Friday for the upcoming onslaught of headstone requests. Spencer Eugene Gavin 57, died Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less 4 of 8 Mourners arrive for the funeral service of 10-year-old Amerie Jo Garza arrives at Sacred Heart Church in Uvalde, Texas for a funeral . What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? A mourner pauses at a casket during the funeral for Robb Elementary School teacher, Irma Garcia, and her husband, Jose Garcia, at Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery in Uvalde on June 1, 2022. At the afternoon funeral for Amerie Sacred Heart Catholic church turned away several mourners after reaching capacity. Most arrangements take a good 30 to 45 minutes apiece to make, Kelly Baker said. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. The father of two will be in Uvalde for the proceedings and to help in any way he can, he said. The casket held a 10-year-old girl who loved purple. And as Texans, we must come together and lift up Uvalde and support them in every way that we possibly can. But she worries that the end of the ritualized mourning may release a different kind of anguish over who is to blame and what should happen next. And the Rev. You will hear me say it at every funeral Mass that I would hope their tears of sadness will become tears of joy, that they remember their children and allow them to continue to live because if youre only coming to celebrate a death, youre never going to find happiness. As Uvalde prepared this weekend for an upcoming litany of funerals, the obituaries for 19 schoolchildren and two teachers shot dead Tuesday in a classroom began trickling out. Thats all were focused on right now her, getting her back and being able to put her to rest, Salazar said of Layla. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, The first visitation for a victim of the Robb Elementary school massacre is scheduled Monday for a student, 10, Sheila Flynn reports from Uvalde, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Pallbearers carry the casket of 10-year-old Nevaeh Bravo during a funeral service at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on June 2, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. Another classmate, Makenna Lee Elrod, was a light to all who knew her who loved her family and friends so much.. Amerie's funeral was the first since the massacre, with Maite Rodriguez's scheduled for later Tuesday at an Uvalde funeral home. . But that anger cant turn into hate., Theres going to be a lot of tears and a lot of sadness, he said Saturday of the funerals to come. Amerie Jo Garza and Maite Yuleana Rodriguez, both 10, will we buried today in Uvalde, Texas - a day that should have been the first day of a joyous week of summer break for Robb Elementary School. Hillcrest Memorial and the shooting will be forever linked. ), Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, The Texas school shooting victims have all been identified: This is who they are, Trump says calls for gun control after Texas shooting are repulsive and shameful, Nineteen children died! Pallbearers carried Layla Salazars white, yellow and light blue casket into Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Thursday for her funeral mass in Uvalde. At her funeral, Erika Santiago, her husband and their two children wore purple shirts adorned with images of victims. People grieve and embrace outside of Amerie Jo Garza's, 10, funeral service. So whatever help he could give, even if its hard to do from far away, he wanted to help including sharing information about what worked well and what didnt, or sharing some of the obstacles we ran into when so much is happening all at once under the cloud of such a tragedy. Santiago told the Associated Press her 10-year-old son, Adriel, was friends with Amerie and Maite. UVALDE, Texas . You couldnt buy a cannon when the 2nd Amendment was passed. It is just sad for all the children, she said. According to a classmate who survived, the 10-year-old tried calling 911 on her phone before Ramos, 18, fatally shot her. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, what can be done to stem the gun violence, Column: Did the DOJ just say Donald Trump can be held accountable for Jan. 6? But its likely their grief will play out in different ways. From the first, each procession has passed a sign in the front yard of Ofelia Martinezs sandy brick home bearing the names of all of the victims. Everyone here knows someone who was killed, he told the Washington Post after Saturdays Mass. The memorial once received so many visitors that the patchy grass on the grounds has turned into a dusty lot lined by floral arrangements burnt to a crisp as fewer and fewer visitors replace them with fresh tributes.