A candlelight vigil to remember and honor the victims of the R.M. Palmer Co. chocolate plant explosion will take place this Friday starting at 7 pm. A total of seven people lost their lives during the explosion this past Friday in West Reading, PA.
The vigil will be located at the footbridge near the West Reading Fire Department in the 200 block of Playground Road, borough officials announced Tuesday.
Originally the vigil was to take place on the Penn Street Bridge, however the idea was scrapped due to difficulty shutting down the roadway.
The vigil is a joint effort between the borough and Reading, meant as a symbol of the two communities coming together in the wake of tragedy.
Bethany Lutheran Church will open its doors at 6 p.m., offering refreshments and a place for borough residents to meet before walking to the vigil. The church will also be open following the event. It is located in the 300 block of Franklin Street
Mayor Samantha Kaag encouraged those who attend to bring pictures and stories about the victims of the blast as a way to celebrate their memory. “Let us grieve together as a community,” she said. Kaag also said that a memorial will be erected along the walking path.
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