The Boulder Chamber is reminding community members that the final evening for its memorial illumination of the Boulder Star will be Thursday, April 1. The star was re-lit on the evening of March 22 after the shooting at King Soopers in South Boulder and remained lit for the following ten nights in honor of each victim: Tralona "Lonna" Bartkowiak, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; Rikki Olds, 25; Neven Stanisic, 23; Denny Stong, 20; Boulder police officer Eric Talley, 51; and Jody Waters, 65.

“In our lighting of the Boulder Star over this ten-day period, we were reminded of the terrible loss of life and the lights that each of the ten individuals represented for their families, friends, and our community,” said Boulder Chamber President and CEO John Tayer. “We also shined the Boulder Star light as a symbol of our unity and resilience in the face of such a tragic assault.”

Added Boulder Mayor Sam Weaver, “The Boulder Star is a symbol of the love that our community members feel for each other, and for the place that we all share together. I appreciate the Boulder Chamber’s partnership with the city in lighting the Boulder Star as a memorial to the sudden heartbreaking loss of ten of our beloved neighbors. The lighted star has provided a comforting reminder that we all stand together in our grieving and healing process.”

In the interest of protecting the natural open space lands around the Boulder Star and promoting adherence to public health guidelines, the Boulder Chamber and the City of Boulder continue to ask community members to avoid hiking and gathering in the area around the Boulder Star in its final evenings of illumination.

Prior to its holiday illumination, which occurred November 11, 2020-January 10, 2021, the Boulder Star was also lit from March through May of last year to provide hope to the community in the first throes of the pandemic. While traditionally only lit during the holiday season, the Boulder Chamber recognized the Boulder Star’s power to help foster community resilience during the early COVID-19 response. As Safer at Home orders replaced Stay at Home, the Boulder Star was turned off for the summer months.