Site of Omaha Shooting Reopens with Prayers, Hope
It was a day when the community of Omaha bonded together to overcome a tragedy that took the lives of nine people.
In what embodied the spirit of healing and moving on, the president of Von Maur and Mayor Mike Fahey joined religious leaders, employees, and supporters for a prayer service before the opening of the department store where the shootings occurred.
For some of the religious leaders, the opening on Thursday marked a turning point where hope instead of grief could penetrate the scene and hearts of those affected.
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"May this store again be not only a place of commerce but a place of giving," prayed the Rev. Harry Buse of St. Leo Catholic Church in Omaha.
"Their deaths were not in vain," Rabbi Aryeh Azriel told the crowd during the ceremony. "May their deaths become a legacy that will invigorate us to live a peaceful existence in this town."
A priest also read the names of eight victims who were shot and killed during one of the worst shooting rampages in the state's history.
Some appeared to still be mourning while others looked toward the eight memorial wreaths placed near the entrance that was adorned with a blue ribbon carrying the message "We remember."
As the door to the store was raised, the crowd burst into applause.
"I think it is important that we demonstrate and show support for Von Maur, our family, the staff and the associates, we the citizens of Omaha really respect and appreciate the investment the family has made in our community and to show that respect we will be there for you," said Fahey.
"We now welcome you back into our store and the Von Maur associates eagerly await to assist you," James Von Maur said.
Around 50 store employees who were holding hands in a line across the entrance parted ways to greet customers. There were long hugs and well wishes before customers began entering the store.
Many took the escalators immediately to the third floor where 19-year-old Robert A. Hawkins of Bellvue, Neb., had opened fire from a balcony perch before turning his semiautomatic weapon on himself.
Members of the community expressed their support and love in their own way.
For Carole Christ, a former teacher, it was sending out an e-mail message that urged supporters to show up that morning.
"We need to let the community and the world know that we do not tolerate this kind of senseless brutality in Omaha or in any other community in Nebraska," said Christ, according to The New York Times.
Julia Plucker, who came to the department store later that day, commemorated the re-opening by shopping at the store. She said she bought a gift for someone and one for herself.
"It's important to show the world that we're moving on, and I wanted to show my support for the store and for the employees," the Omaha woman told the World Herald. "It was fun. I'm glad I came."
Some shoppers conversed with employees and gave them hugs.
Von Maur thanked the employees for coming back to work. Some had decided to no longer work at the store.
The department store, which paid its workers during the two-week closure, has made counseling available to employees.
Von Maur is planning a permanent memorial to the victims of the shootings but is still discussing what form it will take. The store's president said there will be more security on the third floor.
On the night before the re-opening, a gathering of supporters attended a brief prayer service outside the store before removing hundreds of memorialized items including snowflakes, cards, and stuffed animals.
Heather Donnelly, manager of the boys' department on the third floor, where most of the victims were shot, said it was "obviously difficult" to return to work but she did.
"I'm not going to let that stop me from going back to work for a company I'm proud of and to people who are my friends. I feel that it's my duty to go back there," Donnelly told The New York Times Wednesday night.
The incident also impacted those who were far away from the site.
Evangelist Luis Palau said after the shooting that he was "horrified" to hear the news from his Beijing hotel room. He had visited the city in July for his Heartland Festival.
While he said he could "sense the pain" even as far away as China, he asked supporters to have faith that God can mysteriously turn the evil incident into something good.
"We must realize that this was a human failure and an evil act," said Palau in a statement. "But at the same time God knows the days that are ordained for each one of us. Therefore, we must not let anger rule (in the wrong sense of anger – bitterness and revenge)."
From what Buse has witnessed in the days following the shootings, that "good" Palau had spoken of may already be happening.
"It's like a whole city engaged in a huge group hug, embraced you, and all grieving families, into one common heartbeat of love and support," said Buse during his homily at shooting victim Dianne Trent's funeral Mass last week.
