I attended a reading at the University of Cincinnati on the night of October 5th, 2017 by 2015-2017 United States Poet Laureate, Juan Felipe Herrera, in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month. During his reading, we listened to a piece from his book titled "187 Reasons Mexicanos Can't Cross The Border." The piece he read from his collection was titled "Señorita X: song for the yellow-robed girl from Juárez," a tribute bringing attention to the horrific and senseless murders which took place, and are quite possibly still taking place, in the town of Cuidad Juárez, Mexico.
Herrera struggled to finish his 8-page poem, and it took a moment for him to regain his composure. With newfound resolve, he told us that he believes it is our duty as writers, as students, and as caring people to give life to the victims of senseless tragedies by sharing their names. In much of his work, but especially in "Señorita X: song for the yellow-robed girl from Juárez," it becomes apparent just how much power a name can carry. In his poem, he gives identity, voice, and attention to just a few of the hundreds of women whose lives were lost in Juárez.
The reason I'm sharing this with you is that Herrera asked us to do exactly what he did, and I decided to follow through on his request. I don't have a poem for you, but I do have the names of all 58 of the people who perished on that terrible night in Las Vegas, Nevada. This isn't about political rhetoric or inciting hatred. I just want to do my part in making sure these men and women are never forgotten. The list I have for you is from this source.
The Fallen:
Ahlers, Hannah Lassette 6/2/1983 Female
Alvarado, Heather Lorraine 9/20/1982 Female
Anderson, Dorene 4/16/1968 Female
Barnette, Carrie Rae 12/16/1982 Female
Beaton, Jack Reginald 12/10/1962 Male
Berger, Stephen Richard 9/30/1973 Male
Bowers, Candice Ryan 8/10/1977 Female
Burditus, Denise 6/5/1967 Female
Casey, Sandra 11/1/1982 Female
Castilla, Andrea Lee Anna 9/29/1989 Female
Cohen, Denise 8/2/1959 Female
Davis, Austin William 6/20/1988 Male
Day Jr., Thomas 10/29/1972 Male
Duarte, Christiana 8/7/1995 Female
Etcheber, Stacee Ann 2/26/1967 Female
Fraser, Brian S. 8/20/1978 Male
Galvan, Keri 8/20/1986 Female
Gardner, Dana Leann 7/6/1965 Female
Gomez, Angela C. 12/26/1996 Female
Guillen, Rocio 12/20/1976 Female
Hartfield, Charleston 5/16/1983 Male
Hazencomb, Christopher 9/27/1973 Male
Irvine, Jennifer Topaz 6/6/1975 Female
Kimura, Teresa Nicol 3/24/1979 Female
Klymchuk, Jessica 5/1/1983 Female
Kreibaum, Carly Anne 12/9/1983 Female
LeRocque, Rhonda M. 8/29/1975 Female
Link, Victor L. 9/7/1962 Male
Mclldoon, Jordan 10/6/1993 Male
Meadows, Kelsey Breanne 6/26/1989 Female
Medig, Calla-Marie 8/8/1989 Female
Melton, James 8/2/1988 Male
Mestas, Patricia 7/25/1950 Female
Meyer, Austin Cooper 9/18/1993 Male
Murfitt, Adrian Allan 7/5/1982 Male
Parker, Rachael Kathleen 12/16/1983 Female
Parks, Jennifer 1/18/1981 Female
Parsons, Carolyn Lee 12/28/1985 Female
Patterson, Lisa Marie 6/26/1971 Female
Phippen, John Joseph 10/25/1960 Male
Ramirez, Melissa V. 11/29/1990 Female
Rivera, Jordyn N. 7/22/1996 Female
Robbins, Quinton 3/21/1997 Male
Robinson, Cameron 1/1/1989 Male
Roe, Tara Ann 9/1/1983 Female
Romero-Muniz, Lisa 5/19/1969 Female
Roybal, Christopher Louis 10/9/1988 Male
Schwanbeck, Brett 1/31/1956 Male
Schwitzer, Bailey 4/5/1997 Female
Shipp, Laura Anne 5/9/1967 Female
Silva, Erick 8/19/1996 Male
Smith, Susan 8/24/1964 Female
Stewart, Brennan Lee 2/19/1987 Male
Taylor, Derrick Dean 9/25/1961 Male
Tonks, Neysa C. 7/27/1971 Female
Vo, Michelle 1/10/1985 Female
Von Tillow, Kurt Allen 12/4/1961 Male
Wolfe Jr., William W. 10/15/1974 Male
Each of these men and women has a story of their own, and every one of them will be missed by someone. Please take a moment from your day to mourn and understand this great loss. Carry these names with you and let them guide your path forward.
If you'd like to help out the families of these victims, you can donate here.
