Annapolis Honorsโข Capital gazette Victims with โขNew Roadside Dedication
Annapolis, MD – Seven โขyears after a tragic mass shooting โclaimed the lives of five members โof the Capital Gazette newsroom, the city ofโค Annapolis hasโฃ unveiled a new roadside dedication honoring thier memory. The โฃsign, prominently displayed on Rowe Boulevard near the State โขCapitol, will serve as a lasting tribute visible to the thousands โwho travel in and out of Maryland’s capital each day.
The dedicationโข reads: “The โCapital Gazette Five,” recognizing Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Wendi Winters – theโ journalists and staff members murderedโค onโ Juneโ 28,โข 2018, when a gunman โฃattacked the Capital Gazette offices.
“As thousands of people travel along Rowe Boulevard, they will seeโค this sign and be reminded of the lives taken far too soon and of the resilience that defines this community,” said Marty Padden of the Capital โGazette, speaking โขat the unveilingโ ceremony.
The dedication holds particular significance for the families of the victims. Winters Geimer larca, daughter of Wendi Winters, emphasized the importance of remembering the motive behind the senseless โact.โข “I don’t want people toโค forget โthat theseโค were journalists โand โคstaff members who died because someone didn’t like what was written about him in the paper – even though it was true,” she stated.
Former โฃCapital Gazette photographer Paul Gillespie expressedโ hope that the sign will spark curiosity and ensureโข the victims’ legacies endure.โฃ “They’re going to, hopefully, wantโ to know what โit’s about, and then lookโข into it more – and keep Rob, Gerald, Wendi, John and Rebecca’s names alive, and their legacy alive,” he โsaid.
theโ Maryland transportation Commission unanimously approved โขthe dedication, with Commissioner Justin Towles explaining that the sign isn’t just about the โฃtragedy, but about recognizing โthe victims as “Marylanders of significance.”
Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley,โ who was in office at the time of the shooting, underscored the personal impact of the loss.โ “It’s also, โmore and more, a far more personal thing. It’s the story of whoโข they were, all that they achieved and stoodโ for, and all the ways theyโ shaped us,”โฃ he said. “They live on โ- still speaking to us, still shaping our stories, โขstill and always part of our community.”
While seven years have passed, the pain remains palpable for those who knew and worked alongside the victims. Gillespie, still employed by the Capital Gazette, reflected on the enduring loss, stating, “I can’t believe it’s been seven years.”
Key Takeaways:
* A โnew roadside dedication honors the five victims of the 2018 Capital Gazette shooting.
* The sign is located โฃon Rowe Boulevard in Annapolis, a highly visible location.
* Families and โcolleagues emphasize โthe importance of remembering the victims and their dedication to journalism.
* โฃ The dedication serves โas โaโข symbol of resilience and a reminder โof the importance of a free press.
SEO Notes:
* Keywords: Capital Gazette, Annapolis, mass shooting,โ roadside dedication, journalism, Maryland, Robโ Hiaasen,โข Gerald Fischman, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, Wendi Winters.
* Meta Description: Annapolis โhonors the five victims of the 2018 Capital Gazette shooting with aโ new roadside dedication, ensuring their memory lives on.
* Headline: Optimized for search and โฃclarity.
* โขโ Internalโ Linking: Opportunities to link to related articles on press โฃfreedom or previous coverage of the shooting.
* โ Image Alt Text: โ descriptive altโ text for the image to โคimprove โฃaccessibility and SEO.
* โฃ Structured Data: Consider โaddingโ schema โmarkup for events (the unveiling) and people (theโ victims).
