Memorials to those killed Dec. 2, 2015, can be found across the Inland Empire.
The nonprofit Incredible Edible Community Garden planned to create 15 gardens: one for each person killed and one for survivors. Seven were completed in memory of those who died.
Here’s a list of those gardens, and other public memorial sites in the region.
Memorials
Curtain of Courage Memorial
Where: San Bernardino County Government Center, 385 N. Arrowhead Ave., San Bernardino
Details: Fourteen bronze alcoves in the shape of protective curtains comprise the memorial on the center’s east promenade. Victims’ families picked the glass colors for each alcove. A personalized phrase can be seen on each bench inside an alcove. Landscape architect and artist Walter Hood created the memorial, which opened in 2022.
Peace Garden
Where: Cal State San Bernardino, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino
Details: The garden is on the south side of the Chemical Sciences Building and features five benches, five boulders, five trees and a bell atop a five-sided pedestal. Each year, a Day of Remembrance is hosted in the garden and the bell is tolled 14 times. Five of those killed were alums of the university’s Department of Biology and Department of Health Science.
Community gardens
Bennetta Betbadal
Where: Pikes Peak Park, 97 Sixth St., Norco
Details: Named for Bennetta Betbadal, who died in the attack. It has 14 trees to represent all the victims. A jacaranda tree, Betbadal’s favorite, is included. The design features a heart within a heart. It features a meditation bench in the shape of a book. After her death, her husband carried out their plan to move from Rialto to Norco.
Daniel Kaufman
Where: Alec Fergusson Park, 2395 W. Sunrise Drive, Rialto
Details: Named for Daniel Kaufman, who died in the attack. The grove is designed in the shape of an infinity sign and includes a silk floss tree, which was Kaufman’s favorite. Two meditation benches and plaques about his interests complete the park.
Harry “Hal” Bowman
Where: San Antonio Park, 2393 N. Mountain Ave., Upland
Details: Named for Harry “Hal” Bowman, who died in the attack. It has 14 trees to represent all the victims, an olive tree planted by Bowman’s family and a meditation bench. Three butterfly bushes, lavender and lantana flowering plants celebrate his love of flowers, butterflies and gardening.
Nicholas Thalasinos
Where: Corner of Mount Vernon Avenue and M Street, Colton
Details: Named for Nicholas Thalasinos, who died in the attack. It has 21 trees, including three olive trees that surround a gabion, a container for rocks that is part of Jewish bereavement practices.
Mike Wetzel
Where: MacKay Park, 29119 Hospital Road, Lake Arrowhead
Details: Named for Mike Wetzel, who died in the attack. The grove has 26 trees, with 14 making up the border of a path to represent the victims. Wetzel’s tree has yellow flowers; the rest have pink flowers. A playground, boulder-climbing area, picnic tables and a horseshoes area complete the park.
Yvette Velasco
Where: San Sevaine Park, 5440 Cherry Ave., Fontana
Details: Named for Yvette Velasco, who died in the attack. It has four redbuds for the four Velasco daughters, two olive trees to represent their parents, 13 golden rains for the 13 other attack victims and a pine oak in the center for Velasco. A labyrinth takes visitors to the grove’s center. A meditation bench is surrounded by yellow roses because yellow was her favorite color. Smooth river rocks have messages from family and friends.
Isaac Amanios
Where: San Sevaine Park, 5440 Cherry Ave., Fontana
Details: Named for Isaac Amanios, who died in the attack. Designed like an English Garden, it has four quadrants. At the center are trees from Eritrea, an African country that is the family’s homeland, to honor his relatives. There are four meditation benches and 14 trees representing the victims.
Sources: Cal State San Bernardino, Incredible Edible Community Garden, San Bernardino County