Remembering the Parade Victims

To honor the four lives lost and the countless lives forever changed, the Stillwater Strong Memorial was dedicated Friday, Oct. 26, at Hall of Fame and Hoke Street, one block west of Main Street.

“The memorial provides a lasting tribute to the victims of the parade tragedy, an event that brought the Stillwater community together like never before,” said Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis. “The community owes a huge thanks to the Stillwater Strong Memorial Committee, Stillwater Medical Foundation and the many donors who made this memorial possible.”

The memorial features a six-foot tall, handcrafted alloy ribbon in orange and blue on a concrete base with four granite tiles describing the lives of the four victims lost. A fifth granite tile on a separate pedestal describes the memorial and the purpose behind the Stillwater Strong effort. The site will be bordered by a concrete sign installed near the sidewalk bearing the words “Stillwater Strong.” OSU graduate Gary Sparks, a Tulsa-based architect, was the lead designer for the memorial.

The memorial will be illuminated at night and open to visitors at any time.