Texas school shooting: Memorial honoring 21 victims draws hundreds to Uvalde town square

Hundreds of people flocked to the town square in Uvalde, Texas, on Saturday to pay their respects to the 19 children and two teachers slain Tuesday when a gunman opened fire inside Robb Elementary School.

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Out-of-towners from Houston to Colorado have descended upon the close-knit community since Tuesday’s tragedy, KSAT-TV reported, noting that 21 wooden crosses bearing the names of the victims now encircle the fountain in the town square, where the outpouring of support continued Saturday.

“So, we came up with the hearts and crosses. It was designed by another gentleman that we took it over from,” Bonnie Fear, response coordinator for Lutheran Church Charities K-9, told the TV station.

The display was provided by the Hearts of Mercy and Compassion, Crosses for Losses Ministry.

According to KSAT, the handmade crosses, made across 15 locations nationwide, were transported to Uvalde from Fort Worth, Texas.

Meanwhile, about 100 motorcyclists from San Antonio rode into Uvalde on Saturday in a show of solidarity for their grieving neighbors, KENS reported.

“It’s close to home. This is right at our back door. You would figure it would never happen here,” rider Michael Campa told the TV station.

Arturo Garcia, another of the motorcyclists, echoed Campa’s heartfelt sympathy.

“That could have been our children, but it is one of our children because it’s one of our sons and daughters from the community,” Garcia told KENS.

Uvalde in mourning Hinojosa McKenzie, 28, fourth from left, prays for her cousin Eliahana Torres and other victims, at a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)

Uvalde in mourning A woman walks toward Robb Elementary School to lay flowers for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)

Uvalde in mourning A state trooper carries a stand with an image depicting Jesus outside Robb Elementary School to place it around a memorial honoring the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)

Uvalde in mourning Jessica Morales, whose cousin, Ellie Garcia, was killed in this week's elementary school shooting, writes encouraging words on her SUV in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. "You don't expect things like this to happen," said Morales. "It left a big hole in my heart." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)

Uvalde in mourning A state trooper is handed flowers and stuffed animals outside Robb Elementary School to be placed at a memorial honoring the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)

Uvalde in mourning Hinojosa McKenzie, 28, writes a message on a cross for her cousin Eliahana Torres, at a memorial site for victims, including her cousin, killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)

Uvalde in mourning Members of the Mennonite community of Uvalde sing hymns to offer comfort to people visiting a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)

Uvalde in mourning Messages written in chalk decorate the footpaths at a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)

Uvalde in mourning A family prays at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)

Uvalde in mourning A group of bikers pray outside Robb Elementary School for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)

Uvalde in mourning Pastor Humberto Jnr, center, wearing a t-shirt that says "In Uvalde As In Heaven," leads a prayer circle at a memorial site for victims killed in the Robb Elementary school shooting, Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) (Wong Maye-E/AP)

Uvalde in mourning A "Uvalde Strong" sign is posted on an electric pole in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. Nineteen children were looking forward to a summer filled with Girl Scouts and soccer and video games. Two teachers were closing out a school year that they started with joy and that had held such promise. They're the 21 people who were killed Tuesday when an 18-year-old gunman barricaded himself in a fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School in the southwestern Texas town of Uvalde. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)

Uvalde in mourning Jarrod Tomassi, 45, holds an American flag outside Robb Elementary School while praying for the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)

Uvalde in mourning People carry flowers as they walk toward a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in the school shooting earlier in the week in Uvalde, Texas, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP)

Uvalde in mourning A man kisses the cross of Layla Salazar at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP)

Uvalde in mourning A state trooper carries a sign handed to him to be place at a memorial honoring the victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)

Uvalde in mourning Bikers wear T-shirts that say "United with Uvalde" to honor victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)

Uvalde in mourning Flowers and candles are placed around crosses at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)

Uvalde in mourning A large teddy bear is placed at a memorial in front of crosses bearing the names of the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)

Uvalde in mourning A law enforcement personnel stands next to a large teddy bear at a memorial honoring the victims in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)

Uvalde in mourning People pay their respects at a memorial outside Robb Elementary School to honor the victims killed in this week's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP)

Uvalde in mourning People visit a memorial set up in a town square to honor the victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)

Uvalde in mourning A state trooper places a tiara on a cross honoring Ellie Garcia, one of the victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas Saturday, May 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong/AP)