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Sadness And Smiles Mix As Thousand Oaks Memorial Is Dedicated To Victims of Borderline Attack

It was a day filled with beautiful music, and colorful words. But, it was also a day which included pain, and sadness. On the first anniversary of the Borderline Bar and Grill attack which took 12 lives, a series of ceremonies were held in Thousand Oaks to dedicate a new permanent memorial.

What’s called the “Healing Garden” in Conejo Creek Park North was dedicated with three ceremonies. The first on Thursday morning was private, just for the family and friends of the 12 who died in the attack. The second was also private, for the nearly 250 Borderline survivors. And then, Thursday afternoon there was a third, public dedication event attended by more than 2000 people.

The Healing Garden includes a water feature, stone benches for each of the 12 who died, and stone pavers representing each of the nearly 250 survivors. Some of the families of those who died, and some of the survivors were invited to help put finishing touches on the garden before its dedication.

There’s been a grass roots memorial outside of the still-shuttered Borderline Bar and Grill for the last year. But, this $250,000 project funded by the city is intended to give the community a permanent place to remember those who died, and those who survived. 

At the very end of the public dedication ceremony, the tears flowed as family members, and friends of those who died stepped up to read their names.

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral. 
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