The Las Vegas shooting massacre in early October, 2017, struck a chord in the hearts of both Las Vegas residents and visitors, and they have now banded together to create a memorial dedicated to the victims of the attack, named the Forever One Memorial. The memorial has just been approved by the Clark County Commission, and it will be on the former site of the Harvest festival shooting and will consist of a plaza, a tower, and 58 candles representing those who died in the attack's aftermath.

On Tuesday, the Clark County Commission took a significant step towards commemorating the lives lost in the tragic mass shooting on the 1st of October, 2017, at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, by awarding a $1 million endowment to the Vegas Strong Fund. This funding will support the creation of the "Forever One Memorial," intended to honor the victims of the horrific event on the Las Vegas Strip.

A tragic event that will be commemorated and remembered

A model of the memorial, displayed at the Clark County Government Center, provides a glimpse into what will soon be constructed at the site of the 2017 tragedy. This substantial grant will cover the administrative and design services necessary to bring the memorial to fruition.

The Commissioner of the Clark County Commision, Jim Gibson, remarked, "We have a beautiful concept for a memorial, and now a critical phase of work is underway that will lay the foundation for a community-wide fundraising effort to build a project that will serve as a lasting tribute to those whose lives were lost and for all whose lives have been forever changed as a result of the events of that evening."

The memorial is planned to be erected just at the southern portion of Mandalay Bay, the location from which Stephen Paddock fired several rounds from an automatic weapon from Room 32 - 134. The devastating attack resulted in the deaths of 60 concertgoers and left countless others traumatized. Paddock later took his own life.

MGM Resorts' generous donation and the organization dedicated to those who lost their lives

MGM Resorts sold the Las Vegas Village, the area that hosted the Route 91 Harvest Festival, to the Three Affiliated Tribes under the banner of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in 2022. Nevertheless, MGM Resorts generously donated two acres of the 15-acre site for the construction of the memorial. The design, conceptualized by JCJ Architecture, received approval from the County Commission in September of 2023.

"For close to seven years, the Vegas Strong Fund has been devoted to standing by those affected by the tragic events of 1 October," stated Jan Jones-Blackhurst, the chair of the Vegas Strong Fund's board of directors. He added that they are honored to now embark on a new chapter of a healing journey with the permanent memorial that will be created.

The memorial, set to be built at the festival site's northeast corner off Giles Street and Reno Avenue, will feature several poignant elements. These elements include a community plaza, tower of light, and 58 upright candles representing the victims who died immediately following the shooting.

A symbolic memorial

The Forever One Memorial symbolizes the ongoing efforts to support and remember the victims and survivors of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting. It serves as a testament to the strength and resilience of the Las Vegas community, which continues to heal and rebuild in the wake of the tragedy.

As the project moves forward, the grant from the Clark County Commission will be instrumental in ensuring that the memorial becomes a reality. This funding marks the beginning of a broader community-wide fundraising initiative aimed at completing the memorial and providing a space for reflection, remembrance, and healing.