We picked up my dad at the Las Vegas airport for a short stay in Sin City. We had planned this visit months in advance and decided to still go, even though it was only two weeks after the massacre.
The iconic “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign and the area around it, had become a memorial for those who died. We paid our respects as did many others from around the world. The memorial area smelled like decaying flowers and candle wax, I will remember that smell forever. A cabbie told us that the Las Vegas Boulevard from Mandalay Bay down to Fremont Street was closed after the massacre for hours. (About 16 miles).
The music venue where the massacre took place was still surrounded by yellow crime scene tape with a heavy police presence surrounding that location to keep the curious away.
We could see the boarded up windows in Mandalay Bay where the shooter staged his attack.
The MGM lion statue in the lobby of the MGM.
“Vegas Strong” messages were everywhere. The locals we spoke to were saddened, but took pride in the courage of the many people who helped rescue victims.
3 thoughts on “Vegas Strong”
That was a very sad disturbing event. Prayers go out to all that did not survive and those injured. Also for those
that were there because I know that will stay with them forever. So sad.
What an experience to be there so soon after the tragedy. We were in Vegas one year and left right before the
MGM fire, one of the photos shown was where we had been standing just a few days before that – it sends chills
through your body!
It really does. Surreal, eerie – don’t know how to describe it, but definitely sends chills.