Associated Press

Former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords is helped off the stage by Tom Mauser, who is wearing his son's shoes during a vigil remembering the 25th anniversary of the Columbine High School mass shooting April 19, 2024, in Denver.

Saturday marked the 25th anniversary of the mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado. A vigil was held Friday to remember the 13 victims who were murdered by two student gunmen.

Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was among the speakers. She has been an outspoken advocate for tougher gun laws since being gravely wounded in a mass shooting near Tucson in 2011.

“Our lives can change so quickly. Mine did when I was shot. But I never gave up hope. I chose to make a new start — to move ahead, to not look back," she said.

Giffords says she will continue her efforts to make the country safer and encourage others to ”move ahead together.”

“Change doesn't happen overnight, and we can't do it alone. Join me. Let's move ahead together,” she said, drawing a standing ovation.

As small candles flickered on 13 empty chairs, short biographies of Columbine students Rachel Scott, Kyle Velasquez and Corey DePooter and the other victims were read one by one. After each, the crowd of about 150 people replied together “never forgotten” and a bell tolled.

The youngest killed in the attack that has inspired dozens of copy cat shootings was Steven Curnow, 14. The oldest was teacher Dave Sanders, 47, who shepherded students out of the cafeteria to safety and was shot as he tried to get students upstairs into classrooms.

The others killed were Cassie Bernall, Kelly Fleming, Matt Kechter, Daniel Mauser, Dan Rohrbaugh, Isaiah Shoels, John Tomlin and Lauren Townsend.

Sanders' daughter, Coni Sanders, said her father changed the world forever by saving hundreds of students.

“The kids that he saved now have children and those children will have children. So generations from now people will know they exist because of his bravery,” she said before the ceremony began.

The gathering, set up by advocates including gun safety organizations, was the main public event marking Saturday's anniversary, which is more subdued than previous milestone years. In addition to remembering those killed, the vigil at a church near the state Capitol also drew attention to those who were wounded and those who survived the shooting but suffered trauma.

Daniel Mauser's father, Tom Mauser, decided to set up the vigil after learning school officials did not plan to organize a large community event as they did on the 20th anniversary.

Mauser, who became a gun safety advocate after the shooting, urged the crowd gathered at a church across from the state Capitol never to forget the victims of Columbine and to take some kind of action to reduce gun violence.

“And most importantly we ask you to never forget, never forget the victims of Columbine. The slain, the injured, the traumatized and their families. And especially never forget those who lost their lives,” said Mauser, wearing his son's sneakers, a tradition he reserves for special occasions.