PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WTAJ) — Six months to the day of that shooting, 11 people died and seven people were injured when a gunman opened fire on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.
The Squirrel Hill community held a tree planting ceremony on Sunday to commemorate the six-month anniversary of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting.
Family members of the victims, survivors of the shooting, and local officials took turns shoveling rich soil onto the newly planted tree.
Fox Chapel resident Dana Kellerman said the tree represents the community’s resilience to the horrendous tragedy.
The significance of the tree is really that our community is resilient and our community chooses life. And, we will choose to move forward and to make some good of what was a horrendous tragedy.”
-Fox Chapel resident, Dana Kellerman
Community and faith leaders also spoke at Temple Sinai to honor the victims of the October shooting and talk about how to reduce gun violence.