Community members in Buffalo are rallying together on Wednesday, one year after a gunman opened fire inside a clinic, killing one person and injuring four others.
A number of events are planned for the day officially proclaimed as "Buffalo Strong Day" including events to honor Lindsay Overbay. Overbay, 37, was a medical assistant at the Allina Buffalo Crossroads Clinic and the mother of two young kids.
"Today is meant to be one of resilience," Buffalo Mayor Teri Lachermeier told WCCO Radio's Vineeta Sawkar during the WCCO Radio Morning News. "Showing that a city, small town, can go through a tragedy. To find out that the real story is the community coming together."
Lachermeier said it's been important over the past year to allow people to help in the healing process.
"If people are a part of it and feel like they are included it tends to be more of a connection with everyone rather than being disconnected," added Lachermeier.
Community support has come in a number of areas including financial support, meal donations to Allina Clinic staff, and meals have also been provided to first responders that arrived at the scene of the deadly shooting on February 9, 2021.
Buffalo Strong Day on Wednesday includes a number of events including a moment of silence at 11 a.m. across all Allina facilities and Clint and Joan Malarchuk will speak at an event later Wednesday evening.
"What we've done throughout the year is we've had a sunflower field right next to the Allina Clinic, the community put their purple outside lights on, people wore their ribbons and Buffalo Strong t-shirts, and we had Buffalo Strong in our Buffalo Days parade," Lachermeier added. "We've really told the community that we appreciate that they're willing to care about one another."
Lachermeier says the community as a whole continues to lift-up the victims' families, while keeping in mind that the shooting's impact is felt all throughout Buffalo.
"Even though someone maybe wasn't even there, that could have been their clinic, or just having this happen in the city you live in, we know that ripple effect," she added. "We have to allow those people to address that trauma in the way that they individually need to. Tonight is part of that healing."
Lisa Shannon, President and CEO of Allina Health, issued the following statement on Wednesday morning:
"It is hard to believe that Feb. 9 marks one year since the violent event at Allina Health Clinic – Buffalo Crossroads. This senseless tragedy took Lindsay Overbay from her family, resulted in the injury of four of our team members and deeply affected our Buffalo Crossroads team. Over the past year, all those impacted have experienced deep grief and trauma. There has also been an outpouring of love and support, time and space for reflection, and for many, renewed resilience and strength. Buffalo Crossroads clinic is our family. The Buffalo community is our family. Allina Health is our family. We have reopened the doors at Allina Health Clinic – Buffalo Crossroads to continue caring for the community that has cared for us. We are grateful for the support we have received from the Buffalo community, our health care partners and communities across the state. On behalf of the Allina Health family, our sincere gratitude for standing with us and for each heartfelt social media post, prayer and gesture of support."
