On New Year’s Eve, a couple of dozen people gathered in Amarillo’s Ellwood Park and lit candles to honor homeless people who have died. As The Amarillo Globe-News reports, the vigil marked the second annual Homeless Memorial Day.
There are many events like this in the United States around this time of year, though most are usually held on Dec. 21, the longest night of the year. But Amarillo homeless advocates have found that New Year’s Eve is a better day for Amarilloans.
The attendees lit candles to honor the homeless who died in Amarillo in 2017, and one who died in 2016.
Among the honored dead were Ricky Graves, a 60-year-old veteran who was struck and killed by a vehicle last month. The vigil also remembered a homeless man who was found dead inside a fireworks stand along Interstate 40 in October. Homeless activist Tim Justice said he hopes one day the yearly vigil will no longer be necessary.