BALTIMORE VIGIL HONORS VICTIMS OF KEY BRIDGE TRAGEDY
A vigil in honor of the victims of the tragic key bridge incident was held Saturday, April 6 as ongoing salvage and recovery efforts continue.
Community members said prayer is very important to them at this time and so is finding the bodies of the three construction workers who are still missing.
Eight construction workers were filling potholes on the Francis Scott Key Bridge when it was struck by a cargo ship and collapsed. Only two of them survived. The six who lost their live are now memorialized on Fort Armistead Rd in South Baltimore.
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At the memorial, six wooden crosses can be viewed, one for each of the construction workers killed in the Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse. "So that their names are not forgotten." said Roberto Marquez, the artist of the memorial.
Friday morning, dive teams recovered the body of Maynor Suazo-Sandoval. Last week, divers found the bodies of Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes and Dorlian Castillo Cabrera in a red pickup truck 25 feet deep in the Patapsco River. Miguel Luna, Carlos Hernandez and Jose Lopez have yet to be found.
"It's difficult, real difficult." Marquez said.
Collaborating with a few neighbors, artist Roberto Marquez dedicated the past week to constructing a memorial on Fort Armistead Road in Curtis Bay, as close as possible to the collapse site.
"The creation of the memorial holds significance, as does the presence," Marquez emphasized.
"We assisted him in building this memorial for those who lost their lives. They worked for the betterment of everyone on the roads," shared Fernando Sajche, a local resident.
On Saturday, Marquez meticulously inscribed the victims' names on the crosses, which were decorated with work boots, hard hats, and flags representing their home countries. Meanwhile, neighbors gathered to light candles and offer prayers.
"It evokes the feeling that it could have been one of my family members," expressed Keely Aranibar, a resident of Glen Burnie. "This is often the starting point for Hispanic men when they begin their lives here - in construction."
Adjacent to the crosses, Marquez is completing a mural that portrays the devastation caused by the collapse. "At the focal point, there is a female figure expressing anguish. I didn't want to accentuate it too much, but that's the harsh reality," Marquez explained.
The harsh reality is challenging to come to terms with. The community members hold onto hope that the remaining victims will be found, allowing the healing process to commence.
"There is a great deal of optimism, and the primary desire of the community is for their recovery," Aranibar added.
Marquez expressed his desire to gift the mural to the city or a nearby location for a permanent display.
